A snake for your Orangerie?

I don't think I'm the best person to explain this, but I'll do my best. This is complicated, and taps into one of the fundamental themes of the film.

The political situation in Britain at the time was not stable. A few years prior to the events of the film, the Catholic James II of England was deposed in the so-called "Glorious Revolution" by the Protestant William III (aka William of Orange)supported by various Protestant nobles in Britain. This process was not as bloodless as supporters of William liked to claim. A series of battles and struggles carried on for several years, but the turning point was in Ireland, at the Battle of the Boyne, in 1690, which marked the beginning of the end for the Jacobite (Catholic supporters of James) cause. This was followed the following year by the Battle of Aughrim, in which the Jacobite forces were all but wiped out. This is the eradication Talman refers to*.

Throughout the film, it's hinted that Neville is secretly a Catholic and a Jacobite. His suggestion of putting a snake in the orangerie means putting one into the House of Orange, and by extension King William. It is, in guarded terms, a statement of his desire to kill the King. And he's putting his life in his hands saying it, although he correctly judges that Talman is too thick to figure out what he actually means. Nevertheless, Talman and the others may at least have supicions about Neville's alleigances by the end of the film.

Hope this helps. Sorry if you knew any of this already, I don't want to seem patronising, but it's easier to explain from the start. It might be interesting to go through the film sometime picking out all the examples of Protestant/Catholic tension.

*Although the fighting didn't really come to an end until the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden many years later, and the aftermath has an effect on the troubles in Ireland to this day - with the protestant faction still known as Orangemen.

So when it comes to magnitude, remember I.K.B

Ha! It's a knock at Mr.Talmann's lack of sexual prowess! Mr. Neville's busting on him for not being able to impregnate his wife (fruit, orangery--round oranges/orangery = parts of male genitalia and themes of fertility, garden of Eden, etc...). That's why Mr. Talmann gives Neville the "look of death" immediately after that arrogant cad utters those words :). "Too old to recieve presents" wasn't just meant to be a snicker at the time past since Mr.Talmann's birthday four years before and if he'd be gauche enough to still accept gifts for it. Bringing up the Irish, which aristocratic English of the late 1600's were always mocking for their fecundity (notice: Mrs. Talmann earlier knocked Catholicism for assigning rules to sexuality by bringing up the tale of St. Patrick, sneakily allowing the audience insight into who's really gaining control through strategic manipulation) was another hint toward what Neville was implying.

In one wise-assed sweep, Mr. Neville both expressed his social opinions about class and politics, while also mocking Mr. Talmann's impotence---implying that Mr. Talmann could sniff at Mr. Neville's "shoddy" heritage and lineage all he liked, but at least his own reproductive "tools"--and likely those of the low-class, hired help--weren't "rusty".