I could feel the social tension dissolve.

We all felt relieved.
By that time we had disposed of the fish and roasts, the boys had lighted the hanging lamps and the standing lamps, had removed the tray with what we had left of the roasts and had brought in the third-course tray with the birds and salads.

As we sampled them Tanno remarked: "You have a cook, astonishingly good, Caius, for anywhere outside of Rome and amazingly good for a villa in the hills, far from a town.

I must see your cook and question him.

His roasts, his broiled, baked and fried dishes are above the averages, yet nothing wonderful.