Mercedes nursed a special grievance - the grievance of sex. She was pretty and soft, and had been chivalrously treated all her days. But the present treatment by her husband and brother was everything save chivalrous. It was her custom to be helpless. They complained. Upon which impeachment of what to her was her most essential sex pregorative, she made their lives unendurable.

I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot.

Cruelty, as a fine art, has attained its perfect flower in the trained-animal world.

The greatest of the arts is the conquering of men.

Love, genuine passionate love, was his for the first time.

Don't loaf and invite inspiration; light out after it with a club, and if you don't get it you will nonetheless get something that looks remarkably like it.

Having no new companions, nothing remained for him but to read.