#bunter
“[Bunter] was anxious about the arrangements—or the lack of them—at Talboys. He hoped everything would be found in good order when they arrived—otherwise, his lady and gentleman might get nothing to eat till goodness knew when. True, he had brought ample supplies from Fortnum’s, but suppose there were no knives or forks or plates available. He wished he could have gone ahead, as originally instructed, to see to things.”
Sayers, Dorothy L., Busman’s Honeymoon (1937), Chapter I. New-Wedded Lord.
Fortnum & Mason, colloquially Fortnum’s, is a British department store founded in 1707 and known for its provisions. Bunter would not have had to go far to stock up, as its main location at 181 Piccadilly would have been blocks from Lord Peter’s flat at 110A.
Image 1: Fortnum & Mason Piccadilly shop, decked out for the Jubilee of King George V in 1935. (x)
Images 2-3: Fortnum & Mason Potted Game jar, pre-1917. (x)
Image 4: Fortnum & Mason Stilton Cheese jar, post-1917. (x)
Image 5: Fortnum & Mason Caviar jar, circa 1930s. (x)
Gaudy Night:
“But one has to make some sort of choice,” said Harriet. “And between one desire and another, how is one to know which things are really of overmastering importance?”
“We can only know that,” said Miss de Vine, “when they have overmastered us.”
Busman’s Honeymoon:
“Bunter isn’t the only person with standards. You must do what you think right. Promise me that. What I think doesn’t matter. I swear it shall never make a difference.”
He took her hand and kissed it gravely.
“Thank you, Harriet. That is love with honor.”
They stood so for a moment, both conscious that something had been achieved that was of enormous—of overmastering importance. Then Harriet said, practically:
“In any case, you were right, and I was wrong. The thing has got to be done. By any means, so long as we get to the bottom of it. That’s your job, and it’s worth doing.”
“Always provided I can do it. I don’t feel very brilliant at the moment.”
“You’ll get there in the end. It’s all right, Peter.”
He laughed—and Bunter came in with the soup.
