But now, by your leave, I shall ride home." "Home!" cried the Marchese with a scornful laugh--he had won back a few ducats by this time.

"That is a strange way to phrase it!" He turned to the others: "The Lieutenant is staying with me.

My wife has already driven home.

I hope you'll have a pleasant time, Lorenzi!" "You know perfectly well," rejoined Lorenzi imperturbably, "that I shall ride straight to Mantua, and not to your place, to which you were so good as to invite me yesterday." "You can ride to bell for all I care!" said the other.
Lorenzi politely took his leave of the rest of the company, and, to Casanova's astonishment, departed without making any suitable retort to the Marchese.
Casanova went on with the game, still winning, so that the Marchese ere long was several hundred ducats in his debt.

"What's the use of it all ?" thought Casanova at first.