Chapter 1: Section 7: Page 64: Line 187 (1169)

 Even if it was only some conjuring trick, purely secular, he wanted to learn it.

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"only some conjuring trick"
I should quote the entire clause because the "even if" part is doing a substantial amount of loadbearing in supporting Merle's context for what I've quoted. Merle isn't accusing Roswell of performing a mere conjuring trick; he's expressing awe in that, even if it's some form of ocular legerdemain, it's brilliantly accomplished and he's been completely enthralled.

"purely secular"
It seems like a miracle but Merle knows it's science. But it's so close to magic that he can't quite bring himself to call it science. At best, it's a conjuring trick. At worst, it's magic. At the slimmest margin of possibility, it is a holy miracle. That's why the "even if". Because Merle's pretty sure it's a secular bit of sleight of hand but his senses are screaming that it's paranormal in nature. How could it be not?! An image was captured in time through the mere taming of light! Incredible first that light can be tamed at all. Doubly incredible that it can recreate slices of time exactly as they happened!

"he wanted to learn it"
Sheesh. Finally! Get to the photography so we can get to the real point of the story: how Merle met Erlys! This Shaggy Dog story has really gotten away from him! No wonder Dally has to keep asking him how they met. Merle never finds the point.

Chapter 1: Section 7: Page 64: Line 186 (1168)

 He knew he sounded like some rube at the fair but couldn't help it.

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"sounded like some rube at the fair"
Merle's not insulting rural folk here; he's just pointing out that when you see something you've never seen before, and that thing is overwhelming and joyful in its very nature, you can't help but stand slack-jawed in front of its wonder. You want to see more of the lights. You want to ride the Ferris wheel one more time and gaze on the grandeur of the lands around you. You need one of those goldfish in the plastic baggie.

You want to glimpse the past come once more into view, clear and clean, like a scientific scrying glass parting the veils of time. You don't ask to see the trick again because you want to figure it out; you ask to see the trick again because you can hardly believe it happened the first time.

Chapter 1: Section 7: Page 64: Line 185 (1167)

 "Do one more."

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The audience always wants to see another piece. In 2006, Pynchon probably knew he could do a couple more and was eager to please. But it's 2026 now! Is Shadow Ticket destined to be Pynchon's last processed photograph as we stand eagerly by with our pockets empty of silver?

Merle's request to Roswell sounds oddly like an order. It's the abrupt nature of a shortened sentence ending in an officious and emotionless period. But it's also possibly true that Merle feels a bit of power over Roswell, even if Merle is the apprentice in this situation, because Merle has recently given Roswell his freedom back. Plus Roswell may very well be insane and possibly should have stayed in Newburgh. His name is Roswell, after all. Pynchon wants us to understand that he's part conspiracy. But the "bounce" maybe means he always comes, somewhat, back to reality. Sort of like processing a photograph. You have to enter the negative space before you can clearly see reality on the final plate.

Chapter 1: Section 7: Page 64: Line 184 (1166)

 Damn.

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Who is speaking this?! It's like the omniscient narrator has been invested in how much money Merle has. Oh, and also isn't omniscient since the narrator just found out Merle was broke and couldn't help cursing. The only other option, and probably the most logical, is that it's Merle's own internal monologue. As if Roswell mentioning the silver in his pocket got Merle to fish around in his pockets, realize there's nothing there, say, "Not lately," and think, "Damn." But it's still fucking weird. Really weird.

Chapter 1: Section 7: Page 64: Line 183 (1165)

 "Not lately."

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Merle's broke. He's been in town without a real job while often visiting the brothel and going on drinking jags for too long. He no longer has silver, just deadbeat friends who keep getting picked up by the police and thrown in the loony bin.

Chapter 1: Section 7: Page 64: Line 182 (1164)

 "Just like what's in your pocket."

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Is this Roswell expressing hope that Merle will be able to pay him for his tutelage? Not outright asking, of course, since Merle helped him escape the asylum and he kind of owes Merle. Or is this just more preparation for some silver themes upcoming? "Hey, reader! Did you know coins were made of silver? Do you know what coins are? You do know money has existed as an actual object for millennia, right? It's not just numbers in a computer!"

Maybe this is a reference to The Hobbit?

In reality, I should discuss this line and the two that follow it together. But I made the rules earlier and I'm sticking by them! Until I don't!

Chapter 1: Section 7: Page 64: Lines 180-181 (1162-1163)

 "All right, all right. And you swear this is made of silver?"

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"All right, all right"
Obviously Thomas Pynchon had a specific actor in mind when casting for the Against the Day movie were scripted.

"you swear this is made of silver"
I'm not sure why Merle's so intent on making sure the photograph has a basis in silver. Is he having werewolf trouble? I suppose this is just more photography speak as Pynchon walks us through the literal process as well as the metaphor.

You can look up the entire process as I did right on the Internet! If you don't know what the Internet is then how are you reading this? Did some jerk print it up to make 'zines that he's now selling somewhere for profit? That rascal!

Oh, I did learn what the fixer in the hypo from earlier was for! The fixer causes the silver halides to lose their sensitivity to light (which is why this happens in a dark room) and thus fixing the photo in place before it gets exposed to more light and washed out. Then the "fixer" is removed by the water bath and left to dry. And then voulez-vous! You have a picture!

I wonder if the mention of silver is also to prepare us for Lew Basnight's move to Colorado and later discussions of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890?