31 MARCH 2001, Page 87

Q. I was surprised to read that Sir lain Moncreiffe

and others of your aristocracy do not wash their hands when using a urinal. As do most Frenchmen, I always wash my hands before using a urinal. One cannot be sure what one's hands have touched beforehand, and one's more important part should always be clean and ready.

A.R., Coin, Malaga, Spain P.S: Are you as attractive as the little picture?

A. Thank you for this intelligence, and to

the many other readers who have been kind enough to submit similar versions of it. The urinal debate has elicited a huge mailbag. PS: Modesty prevents me from boasting directly, but well-wishers tell me I am even more attractive than my picture suggests.