At this speech Balbi got into a perfect fury.
He called me every name he could think of:
madman, fool, deceiver, liar, nothing was too
bad, but I remained quite unmoved. At this
moment thirteen struck, we had only consumed
one hour since we quitted the loft.

The important affair that next occupied me
was changing my dress. Father Balbi had the
look of a peasant, but his clothes were
uninjured, while mine were torn to tatters and
covered with blood. My legs were in a frightful
state, and tearing up some handkerchiefs in
bandages, I dressed my wounds as well as I was
able. I then drew on a pair of white stockings
as high as the bandages, put on a laced shirt for
want of another, over it two more of the same
kind, stuffed other handkerchiefs and stockings
into my pockets, and threw the old ones into a
corner. I put my silk cloak on the shoulders of
the monk, who looked as if he had stolen it;
and with my own fine coat and feathered hat,
my appearance closely resembled that of one
who having been to a ball had finished the night
with very disorderly companions. The only thing
that took away from the rakish elegance of my
costume was the bandages at my knees. Such
as I was, however, I opened one of the windows
and looked out. Some idlers below soon caught
sight of me, and not comprehending how
anybody so gaily attired could be there at such an
early hour, went to tell the porter who kept the
keys of the palace. He, supposing he had
accidentally locked some one in, the overnight, came
out with his keys, but before he did so, observing
that I was noticed, I withdrew from the
window and sat down beside the monk, sorry at
having shown myself, and far from thinking how
greatly chance had befriended me. Balbi was
in the act of reproaching me once more when I
heard the jingle of the keys. I rose, with some,
emotion, and peeping through an opening
between the folding-doors, I saw a man in a wig,
without his hat, slowly ascending the steps with
a large bunch of keys in his hand. In a very
serious tone I orderd Balbi not to say a word,
but to keep close behind and follow me. Grasping
my spontoon, but concealing it in the sleeve
of my coat, I placed myself where I could step
out the instant the key was turned, all the time
praying most devoutly that the man would offer
no resistance, but fully determined to strike
him down if he did. At length the door was
opened, and at my aspect the porter was petrified
with astonishment. I did not utter a
syllable, but profiting by his stupefaction, hastily
strode past him, followed by the monk.

Without appearing to run, but walking at a
very rapid pace, I descended the Giants' Staircase,
and paying no attention to the voice of
Balbi, who cried, "Make for the church!"
pursued my way straight to the "Riva dei Schiavoni,"
in front of the ducal palace, where, hailing
the first gondolier I saw, I said I wanted to
go quickly to Fusina, and required another
rower. The gondola was ready, and we jumped
inio it, the men wondering at Balbi's strange
appearance, in such a fine silken cloak, and
without his hat, and taking me, probably, for a
mountebank. He pushed off, and as soon as we
doubled the point of the Dogana, the gondoliers
gave way vigorously along the canal of the
Giudecca, which leads both to Fusina and
Mestre, to which latter place I really wanted to
go; and having indicated this altered destination,
the gondola's prow was turned, and, wind
and tide being in our favour, in three-quarters
of an hour we landed at Mestre.

Although on terra firma, Casanova and his
companion were still on Venetian territory, and
in as great danger of capture as before. This
was subsequently shown during the adventures
which befel them during the following eight-
and-forty hours, while, by separate routes, they
made for Trent, their nearest place of safety.
There is much that is amusing in this part of
Casanova's narrative, but it is written at too
great length for our purpose. We, therefore,
leave this wonderful prison-breaker to close his
story in the following words:

From Trent I went to Bolzano, where,
being in want of money to buy clothes and
linen, I addressed myself to a banker, named
Mensch, who furnished me with a trusty
messenger, by whom I sent a letter to Signor
Bragadin. The old banker established me in a
good inn, and there I stayed in bed for six
days, at the end of which time my messenger
returned. He brought me a hundred sequins,
with which I provided Balbi and myself with
what we most required. We then took post
through the Tyrol, and on the third day reached
Munich, where I put up at the "Stag."
Eventually, without hindrance, having procured
more money from Venice, and parted from
Balbi, I continued my journey to Paris, where
I arrived on the 5th of January, 1757.

MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S NEW READINGS.
On Thursday, April 3rd, at ST. JAMES'S HALL, Piccadilly,
at 8 o'clock precisely,
Mr. CHARLES DICKENS will read
DAVID COPPERFIELD
(In Six Chapters),
AND
MR. BOB SAWYER'S PARTY,
FROM PICKWICK.
MR. DICKENS WILL ALSO READ ON THURSDAY,
10TH APRIL.

THE SIXTH VOLUME,
Price 5s. 6d., is now ready.

A STRANGE STORY,
BY THE AUTHOR OF "RIENZI," "MY NOVEL," &c.,
Is now published, in two volumes, price 24s.
SAMPSON LOW, SON, AND CO., LUDGATE-HILL.