It was Perry's copy of "Basic Sales Techniques" with Burton footnotes on vacuum cleaner sales charts for the last half of the 20th century.
"I've read it, of course," Marlboro continued, "but I've never owned a copy." He caressed the dogeared cardboard cover. "Isn't it fantastic? In that barbaric century the customers sometimes refused to buy from our predecessors in the Guild. It seems impossible that anyone could have been so crude as to turn away one of those sturdy pioneers at the door."
Perry shifted uncomfortably. He had been prepared to turn away one of the Great Men at his door.
"Ah!" Marlboro exclaimed. "Your bacon is ready, young man."
At a flick of the salesman's finger, the golden strips of meat lifted into the air and floated to an absorbent mat on the table. Perry stared. Not a bubble of fat had fallen to the floor in passage.
"How did you do that?"
"Serve-All does all," the MS said coyly.
"Mine doesn't," Perry said.
"Of course not!" Marlboro moved deftly into the opening. "You need a new one."
So he had tumbled for the first trap. Perry blushed and ate a piece of bacon.