The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-10-12
-. :, Yuorsdibis story A0o"'
Ptrnets nrss,an Copjurer.

,ao,uninp of the present CEN
AoouI ,m~ OF Cagliostro, or ratne.
tury. a spec'aS' ~ wizard Of the north,
supei'Jh', s annearance ut ST.. fetersouIs,
mace n n,;shed the natives by his marveious
anu ar, His name was pirnetel, anu
;s famc is vet in the memory OF tnoso "no
,,.c;a,ncssed his unrivalled talents Dr.
The Gear Alexander, having heaia co..
,otti much spoken Of, was deslrous 10 sse
~, and ono day It was an rlounced TO Inc
noniI,rcr that he would have the honor OF
o;v;nr n renresentation of his maglcai pow
ers at court, the hour fixed for him 10 MAKE ,,
hiS annaarance being 7 o'clock. a orll,
liant and numerous assembly OF ladles anu
rn,Irtiers, presided over by the Gar, nmu
mot but the conjurer was absen.. gut ,,t
nr,sed and displeased, the Car puliea UaS
bis watch. which indicated flve minut; n
after 7. Pirnetti had not only t th,,1 CONT
being IN waiting, but he causeu tHo more
70 Wait, and Alexander was moI = of
patient than Louis, NV. n ho,,r and no
an houi Messengers who had been SEM
rhne onrcb IF him returned nnsuce ,:as
IN st III onoer of the Car. WIN oilli'
'ui. Im ro;ned: displayed itself In threi..-
CUT! leesnlamations. At length, after the
enlns or an hour, the door OF the saloon
lpn.oJ and the gentleman oil the Chamoer
"'np~nnunced Pirnetti, who presenteu nlm
Se,t with a calm front, ana the serenlIy ~,
one who had done nothing 10 repfo .,'as
T;,nself with. The Car, however, was
nraatIw displeased; but Pirnetti assumed
an air of astonisbment, and replied with
the nreatest GOODNESS: " Did not your Ma
;n command nv presence at I O'Clock
nrecisely ?" "Just sop exclaimed 1,t Inc
Gar. at the height Of evaporation. "Wet,
then ;" said Pirnetti. "let your Majesty,
dninn 70 look at your watch. and you VII!
nercciye that am exact, and that 1t Is just
| : O'Clock" r;o,on,lv
in order to confound what he CONSIDERED u
niece of downright 1nsoience, was coiii =
ipi iotI omazed. The watch marked J
pp,clock In turn all the courtiers drew out
their watches, which were found, as usual
exnctly regulated by that of the sovereign.
seven O'Clock indicated with common ac-
cord Inv all the watches and CLOCKS OF the
palace. The art of the magician was at
once manifest in this strange retrogresslon
in the march OF time. To anger succeeded
ostonishment and admiration. PercelYlng
that the Car smiled, Pirnetti thus ad-
Your Majesty will pardon M. 1t was
by the performance of this trick that was
DESTROYS OF making my first appearance pc
fore you. But know how precious trutll
| is nj court it is at least necessary that your
Nth shonId tell it to you, sire. 1t you
cnnsu,t il now, YOU will find that it marks
the real time" The Car again drew forth
| his watch-it pointed TO few minutes
| mast S: the same reflection had taken place
In the watches of all those present, and IN
the clocks Of the palace. This exploit was
followed by others equally amusing anu
surprising. At the close of the perform,
ances the Car, after having complimented
Pirnetti, brought back to his remem-
brance that in the course OF the eve.
ninc's amusemcnts he had declared tnat
such was the power OF his art that ne
could penetrate everywhere. Eyes, sire,
everywhere" replied the e9n|urer r;,; m,sd
the car, "could you penetrate even into
this palace were 1 to order all the doors 10
no closed and guarded? ?" "Into this
palace. sire. or even into the apartment OF
Iyour Majesty, quite us easily as | shoulu
lentcr INV own house." said Plrneltl.
:" Well. then" said the Gar, at Midday
lto.morrow shall have ready IN my closet
the price OF this evenings alnllseilclitsTI
900 rubles. Come and get tllcln put 1
Iforcwarn you that the doors silaIl De ciose, ~
niddavI shall lave the honor Of presenting
Motif. who bowed and withdrew.
The gentlemen Of the household followed
tba roniurer to make sure that he quilted
the naiacc. They accompanied him TO his
| inIriru.. and a number Of police sur
ro,inded the dwelling from the moment he
entered II. The palace was instantly
clio: ed. with positive orders not to suffer,
under any prcteXt whatever, any one to
enter, were he prince or valet, until the
car himself should command the doors TO
be opened. These orders were strictly
enforced. confidential. persons having
watched their execution. The exterior
openings to the palace We're guarded
by the soldicry. All the approaches
TO the imperial apartments were pro-
tected by high dignitaries whom SIM
ple professor of the art oil legerdemain pos.
sesseu no means OF bribing. In short, for
greater security, all the keys had been car
ried into the imperial cabinet. a few mo-
ments previous to the hour affixed Tor
pirnctti's interview with the Car the
chamberlain on service brought to bis Ma
| icsty dispatch which q messenger had
handed him through an opening in the
door. 1t was report from the minister of
police that Pirnetti had not lett home.
!" Aha He has found out the undertaking
| is impracticable, and he has abandoned 1t,
observed the Car, with smile.
| Twelve o'clock sounded. While the last
stroke yet reyerberated the door which
communicated from the bedroom of the
Car to the cabinet opened, and Pirnetti
nppearcd. The Car drew back couple of
PAGES, his brow darkencd, and, after mo-
mentary silence. he said care you aware
that you may become very dangerous in
dividualS" " Yes, slre," he replied; but
| am only mn humble conf urer, with no am.
L hnt nj Majesty.
"Here," said the Car, care the thousand
rubles for last night, and thousand for
this days visit"
Pirnetti, in Offering his thanks, was in
terrupted by the Car, who, with u
thong hlful mir, inquired of him, "Do you
count OH yet remaining some time in st.
Petersbursh2" "Sirc," he replied, 81
intend setting off this week. unless your
Majesty orders a proloneation of my So
gjourn." mol" hastily observed the
Car, sit is not my, intention to detain
Il smile, ~ should vainIy endeavor to
keep you against your will. You know
how to leave st. Pctersburgh as easily as you
have found your way into this palace"
I"l could do so, SIRE" said Pirnetti, "but
far from wishing TO quit this palace
Stealthily or mysteriously, am DESTROYS of
quitting it in the most public manner pos.
sible, by giving to the inhabitants of your
capital q striking example of my magical
powers"
RI Plrnetti could not leave like an ordinary
. mortal it was necessary that he should
crown his success in the Russian capital by
something surprising his previous efforts
therefore, on the evening preceding the day
fixed for his departure, he announced that
he should leave st. Petersburgh the follow.
ing day, at 10 o'clock in the morning, and
that he should quit by all the city gates
was excited to the highest degree BY