and critique towards societal structures as they celebrate their friend Lage Lang, a Norwegian artist. The opening of the novel introduces a lively dinner party hosted in the Gothic rooms, where guests, including architects and artists, reconnect and share their thoughts on the changing times and friendships. As they discuss past companions and societal issues, tensions surface regarding their relationships with academia and government. The gathering serves as a backdrop for mixing camaraderie with underlying conflict, particularly regarding national sentiments towards Norway and Sweden. The jubilant atmosphere among friends quickly shifts to reflections on artistic integrity and personal rivalries, foreshadowing future disputes as they celebrate their collective but contentious heritage of artistry and identity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)