It has been remarked (by a lady infinitely cleverer than the present author) how kindly disposed the world in general feels to young people who either die or marry.

And how shall I think of you?' He considered a moment and then laughed. 'Think of me with my nose in a book!

He understood for the first time that the world is not dumb at all, but merely waiting for someone to speak to it in a language it understands.

It is these black clothes," said Strange. "I am like a leftover piece of funeral, condemned to walk about the Town, frightening people into thinking of their own mortality.

I know magicians and I know magic and I say this: all magicians lie and this one more than most.

Unfortunately, Childermass's French was so strongly accented by his native Yorkshire that Minervois did not understand and asked Strange if Childermass was Dutch.

Ha!' said the tall man drily. 'He was in high luck. Rich old uncles who die are in shockingly short supply.