one's wine and linen, etc.

[coolfool_sin]

In Derek Wilson's Rothschild - A Story of Wealth and Power, there're a few sentences I can't comprehend, like

1. "... the prince made me a present of all his wine and his linen." pp32. his wine and his linen = ?

2. ... an honour for which he would sell half his nose. pp85. sell half one's nose = ?

3. Whenever she heard of a young painter or poet or sculptor who seemed worthy of note she had her carriage and four prepared. pp187. four, here, = four horses

4. What constantly disturbed the minds of the senior members of the family was the fear that national identity would, like water on a stone, gradually break down Rothschild unity. pp189. like water on a stone = ? It means, here, something wouldn't last long enough as one expects?

5. James's pleasure in this last great triumph had about it more than a hint of Anglo-French rivalry. pp201. had about = ?

6. This was the high summer of... pp254. high summer = ?

7. ... which attracted active participants from all religions and none, so that... pp267. all something and none = ?

Would anyone here care to answer one or two of the above? Thanks a lot.

[Quizmonster]

1. Wine is wine and linen refers to items that used to be made of that material, such as bedsheets, underwear etc.
2. 'Sell half his nose' is an exaggerated way of saying he/she really, really wants something. It's like saying, "I'd give my right arm to be able to sing."
3. Four does mean four horses.
4. Water dripping on stones eventually - over many years - erodes them or wears them away.
5. One aspect of his pleasure was the same as the pleasure the English might have felt at beating France.
6. High here means at the midpoint...ie when summer is in full flow.
7. All religions and none means that it does not matter whether you are a Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh or whatever and nor does it matter whether you are an atheist with no religion.