MORRIS. Well, you may just smile how you choose, I reckon. But I say the Conjurer here could be the biggest man in the big blessed centuries if he could just show us how the Holy old tricks were done. We must say this for old man Moses, that he was in advance of his time. When he did the old tricks they were new tricks. He got the pull on the public. He could do his tricks before grown men, great bearded fighting men who could win battles and sing Psalms. But this modern conjuring is all behind the times. That's why they only do it with schoolboys. There isn't a trick on that table I don't know. The whole trade's as dead as mutton; and not half so satisfying. Why he [_pointing to the_ CONJURER] brought out a bowl of goldfish just now--an old trick that anybody could do. CONJURER. Oh, I quite agree. The apparatus is perfectly simple. By the way, let me have a look at those goldfish of yours, will you? MORRIS. [_Angrily._] I'm not a paid play-actor come here to conjure. I'm not here to do stale tricks; I'm here to see through 'em. I say it's an old trick and.... CONJURER. True. But as you said, we never show it except to schoolboys. MORRIS. And may I ask you, Professor Hocus Pocus, or whatever your name is, whom you are calling a schoolboy? CONJURER. I beg your pardon. Your sister will tell you I am sometimes mistaken about children. MORRIS. I forbid you to appeal to my sister. CONJURER. That is exactly what a schoolboy would do. MORRIS. [_With abrupt and dangerous calm._] I am not a schoolboy, Professor. I am a quiet business man. But I tell you in the country I come from, the hand of a quiet business man goes to his hip pocket at an insult like that. CONJURER. [_Fiercely._] Let it go to his pocket! I thought the hand of a quiet business man more often went to someone else's pocket. MORRIS. You.... [_Puts his hand to his hip. The_ DOCTOR _puts his hand on his shoulder._ DOCTOR. Gentlemen, I think you are both forgetting yourselves. CONJURER. Perhaps. [_His tone sinks suddenly to weariness._] I ask pardon for what I said. It was certainly in excess of the young gentleman's deserts. [_Sighs._] I sometimes rather wish I could forget myself. MORRIS. [_Sullenly, after a pause._] Well, the entertainment's coming on; and you English don't like a scene. I reckon I'll have to bury the blamed old hatchet too.