nova himself would
accompany him in his flight.

If Soradici doubted, conviction was soon to follow. For Casanova
foretold the very hour at which the angel would come to break into the
prison, and at that hour precisely--Casanova having warned Balbi--the
noise made by the angel overhead flung Soradici into an ecstasy of
terror.

But when, at the end of four hours, the angel desisted from his labours,
Soradici was beset by doubts. Casanova explained to him that since
angels invariably put on the garb of human flesh when descending upon
earth, they labour under human difficulties. He added the prophecy that
the angel would return on the last day of the month, the eve of All
Saints'--two days later--and that he would then conduct them out of
captivity.

By this means Casanova ensured that no betrayal should be feared from
the thoroughly duped Soradici, who now spent the time in praying,
weeping, and talking of his sins and of the inexhaustibility of divine
grace. To make doubly sure, Casanova added the most terrible oath that
if, by a word to the gaoler, Soradici should presume to frustrate the
divine intentions, he would immediately strangle him with his own hands.

On October 31st Lorenzo paid his usual daily visit early in the morning.
After his departure they waited some hours, Soradici in expectant
terror, Casanova in sheer impatience to be at work. Promptly at noon
fell heavy blows overhead, and then, in a cloud of plaster and broken
laths, the heavenly messenger descended clumsily into Casanova's arms.

Soradici found this tall, gaunt, bearded figure, clad in a dirty shirt
and a pair of leather breeches, of a singularly unangelic appearance;
indeed, he looked far more like a devil.

When he produced a pair of scissors, so that the spy might cut
Casanova's beard, which, like the angel's, had grown in captivity,
Soradici ceased to have any illusions on the score of Balbi's celestial
nature. Although still intrigued--since he could not guess at the secret
correspondence that had passed between Casanova and Balbi--he perceived
quite clearly that he had been fooled.

Leaving Soradici in the monk's care, Casanova hoisted himself through
the broken ceiling and gained Balbi's cell, where the sight of Count
Asquino dismayed him. He found a middle-aged man of a corpulence which
must render it impossible for him to face the athletic difficulties that
lay before them; of this the Count himself seemed already persuaded.