These were well preserved and unchanging; one and all they are the same: cold, selfish, dominant, reckless of consequences in pursuit of their own will.

It was not that they did not keep faith, though that was a matter which gave them little concern, but that they took care to think beforehand of what they should do in order to gain their own ends.

If they should make a mistake, someone else should bear the burthen of it.

This was so perpetually recurrent that it seemed to be a part of a fixed policy.

It was no wonder that, whatever changes took place, they were always ensured in their own possessions.
They were absolutely cold and hard by nature.