Like the authentic rich, this duo placed comfort ahead of appearance. The key was their footwear. The younger man wore the distinctive boat-shaped Bettanin & Venturi loafers, handmade in Italy. And he wore them without socks, as if he didn't care whether they fell victim to sweat, sand, or saltwater.

An hour and forty-five minutes later, the Teacher stood in front of a floor-length triple mirror in Barneys.
“Does the gentleman like what he sees?” the salesman asked.
The navy cashmere suit the Teacher now wore was a Gianluca Isaia, the bootlicker had told him in the loving, reverent tones of a saint uttering the name of God. The silk shirt was a Battistoni, the cap-toed lace-ups from Bettanin and Venturi.
He had to admit, he looked pretty darn good. James Bond–suave. Like the latest actor, including new blond hair, thanks to the cut and dye job.
“The gentlemen loves what he sees,” the Teacher finally said with a grin. “What’s the bill again?”