How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Parsefall snorted. He had a very good idea how Grisini had taken care of Lizzie Rose's earrings. He'd seen the ticket from the pawnshop. He pointed to the teapot, and Clara reached for it. "Would you like another cup of tea?" (3.43)
Lizzie Rose is so trusting of other people that she believes Grisini when he says he's keeping her mother's earrings safe. Too bad she'll never get them back—Grisini pawned them a long time ago.
Quote #2
Parsefall hung the Devil puppet back on the gallows and turned his back. The two girls went on talking. The chirping, purring sounds in their voices seemed to indicate they were becoming friends, but Parsefall paid no attention to their words. He was searching the room for something to steal. (3.62)
Parsefall isn't going to let his time in the Wintermute home go to waste. He's not there to make friends with someone like Clara; he's more focused on stealing something and sneaking off with it.
Quote #3
The two policemen emerged from the house, followed by Grisini. He bowed to them, turned on his heel, and headed down the street. The policemen set off in the opposite direction, their heads close together.
"They don't like Grisini," Parsefall concluded. "They think he's flimflammin' 'em." (9.3-4)
Even though Grisini is obsequious and flattering toward the policemen, they can tell that he's hiding something. He doesn't seem like the kind of man that you can trust, and even the children can see that they suspect he has something to do with Clara's disappearance.
Quote #4
"You did. You stole it from the Wintermute house. Oh!" Lizzie Rose recalled the frantic haste with which Parsefall had tidied away the blankets that morning. "That's why you were so afraid of the coppers!"
Parsefall said, "Woz not," but without much force.
"You're a thief!" Lizzie Rose cuffed him. "Oh, Parsefall, for shame!" (10.20-22)
Finding the picture of Charles Augustus horrifies Lizzie Rose and makes her feel hopeless about reforming Parsefall. How is she ever going to turn him into a good person if he's constantly lying and stealing?
Quote #5
"How do you know what he will believe?" demanded Grisini. "What do you know of him?" He twisted both plaits around his hands and dragged her closer, peering into her face. There was a moment of utter silence as he glared into her eyes. Then: "Have there been words between you?" (15.32)
It's too bad that Lizzie Rose is a terrible liar—she could really use that skill right now. Grisini can see right way that she's hiding something, and he's totally correct. Lizzie Rose went to the police to tell them what she knew, and Grisini is not pleased about it.
Quote #6
"Not a pickpocket, no. When you first meet her, you will be struck by her air of innocence. It is misleading. She's a deceitful little puss, in spite of her pious airs. You must not let her deceive you."
"I am not easily deceived." (19.66-67)
Grisini tells Cassandra that she should watch out for Lizzie Rose, but the real person that she should watch out for is Grisini. After all, she's been fooled by him once already, so she should know that he's a liar.
Quote #7
"It will be better if you write to them. They're ungrateful little beggars and dislike my society. You may have to lure them here—and you'll have to address your letter to the girl. The boy can't read." (19.71)
Grisini and Cassandra are two adults who can practice magic, and yet they spend their time trying to deceive and lure innocent children to Strachan's Ghyll. What a bunch of turds.
Quote #8
Hunger was another, lesser specter, and with hunger came guilt. Parsefall was shocked by how much money he spent on sausage rolls and penny buns. He lied to Lizzie Rose about his daily earnings and concealed from her the shameful fact that he'd bought something to eat. (25.3)
Growing up in abject poverty has taught Parsefall to lie about everything because it's how he can stay alive. If he lies about buying food, he can eat it all himself, and that way he won't starve to death.
Quote #9
"I never! I told him Grisini stole it. Only he didn't believe me, and oh, Parse—"
"Oh, never mind," Parsefall said irritably. He was vastly relieved; she hadn't betrayed him. "You didn't peach on me, but you botched the lie. I mighta known. You're no good at lyin'. You're never goin' to make your way in the world if—" (27.15-16)
Parsefall worries about Lizzie Rose because she can't lie properly. She sees it as a distasteful habit, but he sees it as a way of life—it's what she needs to do in order to survive in the big, bad world.
Quote #10
He made sure that the servants always found him in bed. The witch must think that he was still bedridden. She must never suspect that each day he dragged himself around and around the small room, resurrecting his strength. (30.28)
Grisini may be super injured, but he's still scheming, as always. He's determined to get one of the children to steal the phoenix-stone so that he can take over its power and wreak havoc on the world. Stay classy, Grisini.