[Grammar] no persons

[emp0608]

Hi folks,

Again from Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day.

There seemed to be no persons present anywhere, and at one point, when we were confronted by a closed gate, the doctor said: “Sorry, old chap, but if you wouldn’t mind doing the honours.”

Do you think Ishiguro used 'persons' instead of 'people' for some literary reasons?

Thanks as always.

emp0608

 

[emp0608]

Thanks, Piscean.
That's what I thought, too, but I wasn't confident.

 

[emsr2d2]

This archaic form remains in the traditional words during a marriage ceremony:

I call upon these persons here present ...

 

[emsr2d2]

Do you wish someone had decided not to hold their peace?

 

[Tdol]

Persons is also used in legal contexts.