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If you beat him you will have passed the test.” Each of you will play a hand of cards with him. “Lionel here”-it meant the cashier-“is an expert in probability magic. “Before we go any further each of you must pass a simple test of magical strength and skill,” the bird said. Quentin couldn’t read its face like all birds, it had only one expression. That got some appreciative laughter, though he wasn’t joking, and the bird didn’t laugh. “Are you from Fillory?” Quentin asked the bird. The room felt even quieter than it had before, and strangely empty. They were down to eight: Quentin, Plum, Pixie, Red Face, Iridescent Glasses, the teenager, the Indian guy, and a long-faced woman in a flowing dress with a lock of white hair over her forehead the last two had come in through the other door. When everybody who was going to leave had left the cashier closed the door again. “See ya!” he said to each person as they passed him. The red-faced guy stood against the wall by the door.
![the magicians land onlione the magicians land onlione](https://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/08/03/books/review/0803-bks-LEPUCKI/0803-bks-LEPUCKI-superJumbo.jpg)
They were in the same boat-she must be scrabbling too. But it was the only one Quentin knew about, and he didn’t leave. Maybe this wasn’t the only show in town tonight.
![the magicians land onlione the magicians land onlione](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/V0034268/full/full/0/default.jpg)
Nobody picked it up.Ībout a third of the room shuffled out with him, off in search of other pitches and better offers. He skimmed the greeting card into the middle of the room and left. “Good luck.” He turned out to have a thick German accent. His black beard covered his chin and neck like brambles. “If you’re not interested, please leave now,” the cashier said. He had to get back into the swim of things. Even magicians needed money sometimes, and this was one of those times. There were probably easier and safer ways in this world for a magician to earn two million dollars, but there weren’t many that were this quick, or that were right in front of him. Satisfied that it had made its case, the bird fluttered up to perch on top of its cage. Bear in mind that if you say no you will find yourself unable to discuss tonight’s meeting with anyone else.” A hundred thousand tonight, the rest once we have the object. Payment is two million dollars each, cash or gold.