Performance art by the museum, they told him, an ode to Magritte; yes, the suit and hat and briefcase provided were fine work, expensive, but there was a grant.

It had to be the truth, Marvin reassured himself, and he knew that the others he met in the museum that day were telling themselves the exact same thing.

The precepts of small-time actors applied to them all: never work for free, never turn down a job, and never, ever, ask questions.