The Toys of Peace and other papers, by Saki

“It was there, among the gooseberry bushes and beneath the medlar trees, that the temptation to the perpetration of a great literary fraud came to him.”

“War is a cruelly destructive thing.”

“Luitpold Wolkenstein drank his coffee, but the flavour had somehow gone out of it.”

“There floated up to him, through the noise and bustle of the Cathedral world, a faint heart-aching message from the prisoner in the wicker cage far below.”

“‘Children with Hyacinth’s temperament don’t know better as they grow older; they merely know more.’”

“‘Intensive bear-gardening was Sir Richard’s description of the whole affair, and I don’t think he exaggerated.’”

“‘I’m afraid I lost touch with the audience rather over that remark,’ said the Sheep afterwards.”

“‘It’s too large to be ignored altogether and treated as a yard, and it’s too small to keep giraffes in.’”

“This particular scion was known by the ignominious and expressive label of Wilfrid the Snatcher.”

“‘Don’t forget the jewels. They are a detail, but details interest me.’”