There are many who claim magical ability--charlatans, most of them, skilled at sleight-of-hand or other conjuring tricks. True wizards are few, and were born as they are, rather than taking it up as a profession. Or so I have come to understand.

[He looks a little rueful.]

I confess I was a little disappointed when I learned it. When I was a boy, I thought that to learn magic would be a fine thing, if it were possible. But it seems not.