Sentence:  "Always the fashion plate, aren't you, Peter", the mayor said as he shook Wohl's hand. “Even when you were a little boy.”  “I've been out hobnobbing with the <WSD>hoi polloi</WSD>, Mr. Mayor.” / “Which hoi polloi would that be?” the mayor asked, chuckling. / “Captain Pekach's fiancée. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  The elite.