The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard, #1)

by Scott Lynch

AN OLD Camorri proverb has it that the only constant in the soul of man is inconstancy;

But nobody—and I mean nobody—has ever been hungry for it like this boy. If he had a bloody gash across his throat and a physiker was trying to sew it up, Lamora would steal the needle and thread and die laughing. He … steals too much.”

LOCKE LAMORA’S RULE of thumb was this: a good confidence game took three months to plan, three weeks to rehearse, and three seconds to win or lose the victim’s trust forever.

“Locke is like a brother to us, and our love for him has no bounds. But the four most fatal words in the Therin language are ‘Locke would appreciate it.’ ” “Rivaled only by ‘Locke taught me a new trick,’ ” added Galdo. “The only person who gets away with Locke Lamora games—” “—is Locke Lamora—” “—because we think the gods are saving him up for a really big death. Something with knives and hot irons—” “—and fifty thousand cheering spectators.”

If reassurances could dull pain, nobody would ever go to the trouble of pressing grapes.”

“Sorcery’s impressive enough, but it’s their fucking attitude that makes them such a pain. And that’s why, when you find yourself face to face with one, you bow and scrape and mind your ‘sirs’ and ‘madams.’ ” 5 “NICE BIRD, asshole,” said Locke.

“When you don’t know everything you could know, it’s a fine time to shut your fucking noisemaker and be polite.”