Pinetti’s explanation of the shirt trick was contained in a work entitled _Amusements Physiques, Paris, 1784_. An edition in English of this book was published in London in the same year. It was called: “Amusements in physics, and various entertaining experiments, invented and executed at Paris and the various courts of Europe by the Chevalier M. Jean-Joseph Pinetti Willedale de Merci, Knight of the German Order of Merit of St. Philip, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, pensioned by the Court of Prussia, patronized by all the Royal Family of France, aggregate of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Belle-Lettres of Bordeaux, etc.” As an exposé of conjuring feats in general this work was an imposition on the public. It was intended to mislead the reader. In spite of the high-sounding title of the work, it contained nothing outside of the solution of the “stolen shirt” mystery. There was no explanation of any trick upon which Pinetti set value, but merely experiments already published in preceding books on the juggler’s art, and which belonged to a long-past time, consisting mostly of chemical experiments and childish diversions. {32} This unworthy publication, and Pinetti’s custom of speaking of himself as endowed with preternatural powers, aroused an adversary in the person of M. Henri Decremps, of the Museum of Paris, an accomplished and enthusiastic lover of the art of magic. From him appeared a book entitled, _La Magie blanche dévoilée_, Paris, 1784, addressed, as he declares in the preface, not to the great public, since “the world loves to be deceived, and would rather believe the fairy tales of the imposter than the unvarnished truth of his opponent,” but to the real lovers of an entertaining art. As this work set forth the real explanation of Pinetti’s wonders, one may imagine what reception it met with from him and his admiring public. Characteristic of Pinetti is the manner in which he sought revenge on Decremps. In one of his performances he deplored the fact that an ignorant imposter, solely with the intent of injuring him (Pinetti), sought to reveal mysteries which his intelligence was insufficient to grasp. All knew to whom he referred, who had the slightest knowledge of Decremps. And what now ensued? Hardly had Pinetti finished speaking, when a shabbily-dressed and unprepossessing individual arose, assailed Pinetti with abuse and bade him take care, he would be fully exposed. The audience, indignant at the disturbance of an amusing performance, jeered the man from whom it proceeded, and made preparation to expel the poor devil. Here intervened, however, the “good” Pinetti. In conciliatory, kindly fashion, he accompanied his assailant to the door, ostentatiously presenting him also with several louis d’or as indemnification for the harshness shown him. [Illustration: _L’Art de faire les Portraits à la Silhouette en Miniature à la manière angloise, à l’aide de la Chambre obscure._ Chap. VIII, pag. 55.