A 'psychic' arrives in Purlieu. He sees an easy target in Pat: particularly since he has stolen her purse, which is a mine of information. Talis, who has known real seers in his own time, soon realises the man is a charlatan. But one by one the Fields let themselves be fooled, until they're ready to hand over their house! Talis has a hard job bringing them back to their senses.