31 OCTOBER 1998, Page 30

Word of mouth

A MINOR triumph this week when. I addressed a Russian delegation to the City of London. They asked what the mood had been like at the IMF meeting. It was full of bankers, I said, all crying into each others champagne. This word was new to my inter- preter: could I explain it, please? ShamPaS slcaye, I said firmly. They were impressed. I had to speak Russian, this was the right word to know.