might be disposed to assist him to break prison.

In reply, being a scholarly rascal (he had been educated for the
priesthood), he wrote six verses himself. Having no pen, he cut the long
nail of his little finger to a point, and, splitting it, supplied
the want. For ink he used the juice of mulberries. In addition to the
verses, he wrote a list of the books in his possession, which he placed
at the disposal of his fellow-captive. He concealed the written sheet in
the spine of that vellum-bound volume; and on the title-page, in warning
of this, he wrote the single Latin word "Latet." Next morning he handed
the book to Lorenzo, telling him that he had read it, and requesting the
second volume.

That second volume came on the next day, and in the spine of it a long
letter, some sheets of paper, pens, and a pencil. The writer announced
himself as one Marino Balbi, a patrician and a monk, who had been four
years in that prison, where he had since been given a companion in
misfortune, Count Andrea Asquino.

Thus began a regular and very full correspondence between the prisoners,
and soon Casanova--who had not lived on his wits for nothing--was able
to form a shrewd estimate of Balbi's character. The monk's letters
revealed it as compounded of sensuality, stupidity, ingratitude, and
indiscretion.

"In the world," says Casanova, "I should have had no commerce with a
fellow of his nature. But in the Piombi I was obliged to make capital
out of everything that came under my hands."

The capital he desired to make in this instance was to ascertain whether
Balbi would be disposed to do for him what he could not do for himself.
He wrote inquiring, and proposing flight.

Balbi replied that he and his companion would do anything possible to
make their escape from that abominable prison, but his lack of resource
made him add that he was convinced that nothing was possible.

"All that you have to do," wrote Casanova in answer, "is to break
through the ceiling of my cell and get me out of this, then trust to me
to get you out of the Piombi. If you are disposed to make the attempt, I
will supply you with the means, and show you the way."

It was a characteristically bold reply, revealing to us the utter
gamester that he was in all things.

He knew that Balbi's cell was situated immediately under the leads, and
he hoped that once in it he should be able readily to find a way through
the roof. That cell of Balbi's communicated w