An unknown gentleman was already in the elevator of the Upper East Side apartment building when Lois Sherr Dubin, a resident, got on. As the two descended she noticed the man's belt buckle and having just written a book on North American Indian jewelry, she asked if the buckle was made by Indians.

'I don't know,' he said and proceeded to remove it to have a look. Within moments they reached the lobby and as the doors opened, a young woman who was waiting to enter stared as the man casually replaced his belt. Without missing a beat, the man turned to Ms. Dubin and said, 'Thanks very much.' She smiled and said, 'You're welcome.' Neither one enlightened the young woman.

Ms. Dubin is still smiling. And the belt buckle? It was a knockoff.