Like many, I have been absorbing the slow death by strangling of Barneys New York online, in articles about failed Hail Mary investments and LOL-worthy Instagram photos of 5-percent-off price tags and clearance posters in the windows that look as if they were last used at a Hobby Lobby.

It has been dispiriting, and also farcical — the butterfingers dismantling of a great New York institution.

Anytime I noticed that a friend had gone for a visit, I sent a message asking for a graveside report; most came back bleak. Recently I went to see for myself — in Beverly Hills, forgive me — and found the air inside stagnant.

The clerks were bored, verging on resentful or resigned. There was an in-house collection of T-shirts with graphics drawn from Kurt Cobain’s journals. A leather Gucci jacket bearing the logo of the Chateau Marmont was about $6,000, down from $6,700. I dry-heaved just a touch.