The story goes that there were two people locked in cages next to each other. Both of them were heavily laden in chains and bonds, locked into one another. The man on the right was smiling and breathed lightly with the breeze, the other was sullen and had a heavy tone as he gasped for air. The smiling man asked the other: 

“What are you in for?”

“Theft, destruction of property, and manslaughter.”

“That’s a hefty list of fines, sir.”

“And how about yourself?”

“Me? I’m a traveling magician. I’m meant to be in this box.”

The prisoner laughed and shook his head at the magician. He had never heard of somebody putting himself in his own cage. A handler arrived and handed the prisoner his meal, and the magician’s assistant came by to give the magician some water. 

“So,” the prisoner started, not being able to help himself. “What’s the difference between us?” 

The magician smiled and spoke candidly. “I can get out of this cage, and you cannot.”

“Ah. That would make sense. How do you do it?”

The magician, anticipating this question, shook his head and wagged his finger. The prisoner’s charmed face twisted into a snarl as if he had been spit upon.

“Well? How are you meant to escape the cage?”

“Do you not know the rule my friend?”

“What rule?”

“About magicians revealing their secrets.”

The prisoner considered this for a moment and nodded. Of course a magician would never reveal his secrets. He then laughed, shaking his head at the magician. 

“Alas,” he said, “then you are still caged.”

“It is true my friend, but I can get out, and it will still be a mystery to you.”

Time passed and the two sat in their cages for what seemed like hours. Every once and a while, people would mill by and stare at the two of them, make comments, then pass through. The handler gave the magician more water, and the prisoner received a new meal. The prisoner started to get antsy in his cage and shifted his weight several times, trying to get comfortable. All the while, the magician smiled and waved to the onlookers. 

“Really, now, you must agree,” the prisoner spurted, “that there is no harm in telling one measly prisoner how you do your party trick.”

The magician considered it, then nodded. “I suppose that’s true.”

The magician went from his laying position to a crouch and gestured towards the bars above and below him. 

“These bars are rigged. If I tap on a certain bar three times, a key falls down and I can escape.”

The prisoner smirked at the simplicity, shaking his head once more. Soon enough, the time had come for the magician to reveal his trick. He called for the crowd to see him in action and he stood on the tips of his toes, ready to finally reveal his escape artistry. He looked one more time at the prisoner, winked, and hit the bar three times.

Nothing came out.

Trying to keep his composure, the magician moved to the next bar and tapped three times with the same result. Methodically, the magician continued to tap on the bars, each bar more frantic than the last. His breathing became heavy and his face had become sullen. With finality, he tapped the remaining bar to no avail, cursing himself under his breath. Suddenly, the prisoner was breathing lightly, and had a smile on his face. The magician glowered back, prompting a response. The prisoner, sighing, simply said:

“Just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”