116 Plynlimon: the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains, in mid Wales.

117 scrofulous: infection of the lymph nodes, associated with tuberculosis, and manifesting in blueish growths around the neck.

118 Morgan le Fay: queen and witch of the Arthurian legends, and King Arthur’s sister.

119 Taliesin: Welsh poet of the seventh century, associated in myths with King Arthur.

120 Thomas Tomkins: Welsh keyboard composer of the seventeenth century.

121 Three Choirs Festival: the world’s oldest music festival, dating from the early eighteenth century, held in rotation at Worcester, Gloucester and Hereford cathedrals. Handel’s Messiah was first performed in the 1740s.

122 Nottingum: the District Nurse is from Nottingham.

123 lockjaw: tetanus, caused by infection from an open wound contaminated with soil or manure. The District Nurse is applying iodine as a disinfectant, which stings vigorously, and has a distinctively strong smell.

124 Zeitgeist: German, spirit of the age, or of the times.

125 Dreiviertelstein: German, three-quarter stone.

126 Styria: formerly a Duchy in what is now south-east Austria, bordering modern Slovenia.

127 oriel: an upper bay window that projects out from the wall.

128 Cisalpine: on the Italian side of the Alps, that is, further south and east than Dreiviertelstein, and considerably nearer sea level.

129 Michaelmas: the quarter of the year between autumn and winter, and the feast of St Michael on 29 September.

130 Ural Mountains: the range of mountains running north-south between western Russia and Kazakhstan, part of the traditional boundary between Europe and Asia.

131 white lead: a naturally occurring lead carbonate, used as a cosmetic for centuries, though it can cause lead poisoning.

132 Four Thieves vinegar: traditional vinegar blend used to ward off the plague.

133 skyey: a reference to Shelley’s poem ‘The Cloud’, and to Count Luxus’ earlier metaphor.

134 arrière-pensée: French, an ulterior motive, a concealed intention.

135 cicisbeo: Italian, a lady’s acknowledged gallant or lover.

136 bon-aller: French, a send-off, a farewell salute.

137 Bourrasque: French, a squall.

138 Grive: French, a thrush

139 Bouvreuil: French, a bullfinch

140 bar sinister: heraldric term, denoting an illegitimate birth.

141 bilboquet: cup and ball, a game of catching a ball attached by a string into a cup.

142 salacity: salaciousness, lecherous, lustful.

143 wicket: wicket gate, a small servant’s entrance.

144 Martinmas: St Martin’s Day, 11 November.

145 Turdus philomelos: the song thrush.

146 spatchcocked: cooked with its backbone removed to allow more of the flesh to roast.

147 Mazulipatans: fine woven fabrics from Machilipatnam, Andra Pradesh, India.

148 marrons glacés: candied chestnuts.

149 fowling pieces: early shotguns for shooting geese and game birds.

150 orgeat: an almond syrup, flavoured with orange or rosewater.

151 kickshaw: miniature portions of appetising food.

152 Prophet Hasan ben Sabah: Hassan-e Sabbāh, twelfth-century Persian, founder of the Islamic sect called the Assassins.

153 Procolitia: an auxiliary fort, now called Carrawburgh. Its walls have inscriptions of a dedication to Coventina, a water goddess, and also contain a Mithraeum.

154 genius loci: the local god(dess) or spirit.

155 Borcovicus: an auxiliary fort, now called Housesteads.

156 Magister artis: Latin, Master of Arts. Sir Bodach is making sure, politely, that Snipe knows of his educational status.