He was quick, too, to make sure of his sword.

Now, when he conceived himself to have at least escaped the worst contumely of all, that of ludicrousness, he began to wonder whether it would not be possible to throw another light upon this affair in which he cut so pitiful a figure.

He was an adept in the use of language.

Could he not somehow or other, by a few well-chosen words, give matters a favorable turn?
From the nature of the circumstances, it was evidently impossible for Marcolina to doubt that Lorenzi had sold her to Casanova.

Yet however intensely she might hate her wretched lover at that moment, Casanova felt that he himself, the cowardly thief, must seem a thousand times more hateful.
Perhaps another course offered better promise of satisfaction.