Sublime

He and Hal exchanged the very slight sorts of nods people use when they like each other past all need for politeness.

haphazard

You are what you do, Morris, he thought, and you have been doing poorly.

On the one hand, power; on the other, love.

Just your everyday grouping of civilized gentlemen, sitting in a round robin to discuss the events of the day with quivering erections.

pleasure

in a frenzy of commerce,