The garlands for our heads, which were offered us heaped on a tray, were to the last degree exquisite.

I adjusted mine as if in a dream.

I was dazed.
I knew that the flowers could not have been supplied by our gardens; I could not conjecture whence they came.
Agathemer, bowing and grinning, stood in the inner doorway.

My eyes questioned his.
"I have a note here," he said, "which I was enjoined not to hand you until you had lain down to dinner." The two second assistant waiter boys took our shoes and we disposed ourselves on the sofas, Tanno in the place of honor, I rejoicing again that his presence had solved, acceptably to all the rest, the otherwise insoluble problem of to whom I should accord that location.
Agathemer handed me the note.

At sight of it I recognized the handwriting of Vedius Caspo.