extra smile; most of the humor comes in anyhow, from knowing more than
the other fellow thinks you do. The more a man lies the less you want
to contradict him, because if you do he'll know that you know he's lying
and that's giving away information, which is the unforgivable sin."

"Golly!" exclaimed Jeremy. "Your trade wouldn't suit me, Jim! When
doing tricks, it's good to watch folks' eyes pop open. What tickles my
wish-bone is what I can see for myself on their silly faces, half of 'em
trying to look as if they know how it's done and the other half all
grins. I did tricks for a Scotchman once, who got so angry I thought
he'd hit me; he said, what I did was impossible, so I did it again and
he still said it was impossible, and he ended by calling me a 'puir
dementit men.' That was my apogee; I've never reached that height
since, not even when I first made a camel say prayers at Abu Keen and
the Arabs hailed me as a prophet! Bread's good, but it's better with
the butter on it right side up!"

"Not in this game, it isn't," answered Grim. "If your bread seems
smeared with butter that's a sure sign it's dangerous. For God's sake,
as long as you stay in the game with me don't play to the gallery,
either of you! Let's order breakfast."

It was the longest lecture and expression of opinion I had ever listened
to from James Schuyler Grim, and though I've turned it over in my mind a
great deal since, I can't discover anything but wisdom in it. I believe
he told Jeremy and me the secret of power that morning.