Morning News: Fra i ricchi

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Rob Bennett for the Times

While the rest of us are frazzled by spotty Internet connections, people too grand to know what a keyboard is have their own problems, too. For example, if you’re a top French businessman, your office is probably done in some sort of Louis XV style. (Luis Buñuel shared this information with everyone in the world in Le charme discret de la bourgeoisie.) How anxious-making, therefore, to learn that the “kingmaker” of Le Club des Cent (a roundtable of mercantile talons rouges) goes in for the seriously regal style of Louis XIV. Not only less comfortable but much, much more expensive.

¶ No Guillotines, Please; We’re Énarques.

And on this side of the pond, new neighbors at the Plaza are pining for the gilded backyard fence. Canasta, anyone? (You ought to have heard Kathleen snorting over this story, seen her roll her eyes. “Are these people mad?” she bellowed.)

¶ Condos at the Plaza.