Dr. Maximilian Griffen shut the door to his windowless office behind the last sufferer of the day and plunked himself down on one of two modest chairs provided for his patients. Reaching down and wincing, he removed slip-on Italian leather loafers. He leaned back and lifted his left ankle to his right knee, the better to examine the source of painful irritation that had plagued him for the latter half of the day. Holes in his socks, there: the explanation. Holes in his premium silk-and-bamboo socks, purchased by the dozen, what – five, six years ago? Pretty good performance for socks, but Max recalled some mention of a lifetime guarantee. ‘Buy quality so it lasts’ was a philosophy that had rarely disappointed him, so he examined the red sores on the sole of his left foot with dismay. He sw
