Hobnobbery

The protesting sects have pulled Him out of the shrine, smashing it in violent bitterness of hatred: they have overflushed Him with lusty blood, made Him hail-fellow walking amongst men, and they have brought Him into intimate hobnobbery with the multitude;

Everyone besides the two dedicated champagne-pourers in the corner is swirling around in varying states of hobnobbery: library undersecretaries, branch curators, and nearly all the living members of the Oulipo, about half of whom I am meeting for the first time.

Why all this social climbing hobnobbery?