At least there is a weather-prophet at Arles whom some of the fools believe in; but he broke his leg a little while ago, and his spirit of prophecy did not enable him to foresee that, therefore I doubt his knowing about the weather." "There have always been those who dealt in lying signs and wonders," said I, "from the days of Moses, when the magicians feigned to change their rods into serpents, which of course they could not do really." "They were clever at sleight-of-hand, I suppose," said La Croissette.
"So is Doctor Jameray.

He can do many wonderful things.

I can do some of them myself.

You see, some of his conjuring tricks require a second person, who must not be known for his assistant; so that when he sets out on his tours through the provinces, I generally do the same, and contrive to cross his path, as if by accident.

Then we play off on a new set of people the tricks we have played twenty times before in other places." "Then needle-selling is only a blind ?" said I.
"I turn a little money by it; the more, that I am careful always to sell the best needles and pins.