"Let me get these stockings and shoes." She went on talking while trying to think how she could get the conversation around to religion, where she wanted it.  Bless them, these kids were ready to be seekers, she was certain - and she had counted on the whole season to bring them around to the light... not just one hurried visit before they left. "The point about show business, Smitty, is that first you have to know what the marks want... and you have to know what it is you're giving them and how to make 'em like it.  Now if you were a real magician - oh, I don't mean that you aren't skillful, dear, because you are." She tucked her carefully rolled hose in her shoes, loosened her garter belt and got out of it modestly, let Jill get her dress zippers. "I mean if your magic was real like you had made a pact with the Devil.  That'd be one thing.  But the marks know that it's clever sleight-of-hand.  So you give 'em a light-hearted show to match.  But did you ever see a fire eater with a pretty assistant?  Heavens, a pretty girl would just clutter his act; the marks are standing around hoping he'll set fire to hisself - or blow up."