Most of them were young men, and many of their names were those which Bragadino had mentioned in the morning as belonging to persons of suspicious character.
But the name of Casanova did not produce upon his new acquaintances the effect which he felt himself entitled to anticipate.

It was plain that most of them knew nothing more of Casanova than that, a great many years ago, he had for one reason or another, and perhaps for no reason at all, been imprisoned in The Leads; and that, surmounting all possible dangers, he had made his escape.

The booklet wherein, some years earlier, he had given so lively a description of his flight, had not indeed passed unnoticed; but no one seemed to have read it with sufficient attention.

Casanova found it amusing to reflect that it lay within his power to help everyone of these young gentlemen to a speedy personal experience of the conditions of prison life in The Leads, and to a realization of the difficulties of escape.

He was far, however, from betraying the slightest trace that he harbored so ill-natured an idea.