Welsh-comb

The intervening years have been kind to Edward Fox and John Wells, who now assume the principal roles, in allowing them to keep their full complement of hair. Mr Fox shows his gratitude by using his rug as a prop, flopping it forward, Welsh-combing it back, letting it stand up on end as if from shock, while Mr Wells is content mostly to let his limply swathe his forehead.

During the applause the singer poured a glass of water from the decanter into the tumbler, drank a mouthful, and Welsh-combed his moustache and hair.

But her mind couldn’t help dwelling on the way the Russian’s long fingers had Welsh-combed his luxuriant hair.