Numerous wineglasses were placed before each guest, and champagne was cooling in an ice-bucket near the door.
Dorfling was there, and received his guests as the waiter lifted the heavy portiere.

He was in evening dress, and his slightly flushed face beamed with pleasure.

His friends regretted keenly that they had come in ordinary morning clothes, and expressed their apologies.

He interrupted them, saying they must overlook one of his little whims and not say anything more about it.
Then they sat down to table, impressed by his charming manner.

Dorfling put Schrotter on his right hand, and Wilhelm and Paul on his left; near Schrotter was Barinskoi and a friend of Dorfling's, named Mayboorn.
This man was, like Dorfling, a Rhinelander, he combined a successful career as a writer of comic verses with a confirmed pessimism.