Suave and Urbane

Somerset Maugham, then in his 70s, on his two 16th floor rooms at the Plaza in New York in the fall of 1945. "Everyone who comes in says: what a beautiful view of the park you have and I say: yes, it's a beautiful view of the park. Then they say: it must be simply lovely at night, and I say: yes, it's simply lovely at night. Then they say: you know, I'm never tired of this view and then I say: will you have a cocktail and they say: yes, and turn their back on the view with a sigh of relief." 
Maugham could be a quite a handful of cold potatoes, but he was undeniably suave and urbane.
— quote from "Maugham" by Ted Morgan