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