The host, Mr. Cavenstein, was in the narrow foyer adjacent to the dining room pacing nervously in anticipation of his impending dinner party. Beads of sweat ran furiously across his brow as he mopped at them with a red silk handkerchief. He was dressed finely in a blue pinstripe suit with several small accoutrements including gold cufflinks clipped to the wrists of his firmly pressed white cotton shirt.
Despite being impeccably dressed and thoroughly prepared, Mr. Cavenstein was still rather anxious about the schedule of the evening. In fact, he had been scrutinizing over this particular engagement since he had been informed of it three days prior.
* ~~ *
Three days prior…
Arnold Cavenstein had just finished a light breakfast of grapefruit on his sunny balcony patio. He was about to go down to attend to his potato market in the local distrip when he heard an abrupt clank from his door knocker. Noting that it was particularly strange for guests to be calling so early in the morning, Mr. Cavenstein was surprised at the sound.
Upon answering the door he was met by a man dressed in a black suit and a bowler hat. The man handed him a letter and turned promptly to leave. Normally Mr. Cavenstein would have invited his visitor in for a bit of breakfast and a light discussion on the weather, but the man escaped him much too quickly for any such invitations to be made. Resolving not to let the awkward exchange ruin his morning Mr. Cavenstein took the letter inside, opened it up, and scanned its contents. The letter read as follows:
Dear Mr. Arnold Cavenstein,
Greetings and good morning sir! It is my sincerest hope on behalf of those who I represent that this letter finds you well.
I am writing at the behest of a group of influential individuals who would prefer, at this time, to remain anonymous. It is their expressed wish, in three days time, to hold a dinner party at your residence in which they may discuss and conduct their business.
These individuals realize that this request may lay a bit of an imposition on your schedule, but they also wish to inform you that they are in possession of records of your financial dealings, specifically how you went about acquiring your most recent holdings. They are prepared to release this information to certain people of interest unless you assent to their requests.
The dining party requires a twenty-one course dinner (see attached listing of proper order of courses), a concealed room with the curtains drawn, a table set for four, and a working telephone. They will remain at dinner until their affairs are concluded. You are only accountable for preparing and serving the evening meal.
Finally, those who will be in attendance wish to thank you in advance for your services. It is their wish to settle their issue quickly and to leave you to yourself. They do regret the use of such a means of motivation, but wish to remind you that your acceptance of these terms is obligatory if you wish for your affairs to remain your own.
Thank you for your time.
Warmest Regards,
Riley Pervis
Secretary of ------- ------
Mr. Cavenstein stood in quiet shock, the type of utter amazement that leads a genius to breakthrough and a simpleton to drink. He read over the requests of the attendees again and again. It was not a question of if, rather how.
* ~~ *
Mr. Cavenstein stood rigid in the foyer of his apartment, waiting attentively for his guests. He cupped his hand to his mouth and blew into them, lightly sniffing the air. He turned towards the kitchen to grab a mint when the knocker sounded loudly as it had three days before. Mr. Cavenstein jumped back from the door, springing like a gazelle away from a hungry tiger.
The time had come. The dinner party had arrived.
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