Rapaire, you may be on to something- the image of the chilly English gentleman may be one that the English themselves promulgate.

Years ago I worked in a resort where our Dining Room Manager was a very correct Englishman. He spoke clipped, upper class English, his clothes were expensive and impeccably brushed, his carriage was spare and upright and unhurried.

He was also very married with two halfgrown children.

One day we got to work and discovered that our bloodless Englishman had run off with one of the waitresses.

har