The clap was firm, and Howard declared, "Oli welcomes you."
Laurent responded, "I look forward to it."
After wiping their mouths with the dining napkins, the delightful lunch came to an end.
During his afternoon rest, Howard took a stroll in Laurent's garden to admire the plants.
Although it was winter and most of the flowers had yet to bloom, Howard stumbled upon a plant known as the Christmas Rose in Laurent's garden.
The blooming period of the Christmas Rose is from winter to early spring, and it happened to be flowering these days.
Howard found the flower quite beautiful.
Laurent asked Howard, "Oh, do you also enjoy tending to plants usually?"
Howard replied, "Oh, I just like to look at them now and then."
Three days later, Howard arrived in Venice to meet with the governor of Venice.
The governorship of the merchant republic had already changed hands, as it often does frequently.
