talkingpiffle:“I say, while I’m away, how would it be if you put in some good work with the other pr
talkingpiffle:“I say, while I’m away, how would it be if you put in some good work with the other professional dancers here? You might get hold of some gossip about Paul Alexis.”“There’s something in that. But I’ll have to get a decent frock if there is such a thing in Wilvercombe.”“Well, get a wine-coloured one, then. I’ve always wanted to see you in wine-colour. It suits people with honey-coloured skin. (What an ugly word ‘skin’ is.) ‘Blossoms of the honey-sweet and honey-coloured menuphar’–I always have a quotation for everything–it saves original thinking.”“Blast the man!” said Harriet, left abruptly alone in the blue-plush lounge. Then she suddenly ran out down the steps and leapt upon the Daimler’s running-board.“Port or sherry?” she demanded.“What?” said Wimsey, taken aback.“The frock–port or sherry?”“Claret,” said Wimsey. “Château Margaux 1893 or thereabouts. I’m not particular to a year or two.”–Dorothy L. Sayers, Have His Carcase, Chapter IV. “The Evidence of the Razor,” 1932.(“Blossoms of the honey-sweet and honey-coloured menuphar” [sic; should be nenuphar] is from the 1894 poem “The Sphinx” by Oscar Wilde.) (x)Image 1: Actual Château Margaux 1893 claret bottle (thank you, internets!). (x)Image 2: 1930s evening frock to match. (x) -- source link