A few seconds elapsed, and Lorenzi was still silent.

He seemed immersed in tranquil thought, but Casanova remained on the alert, holding the kerchief with the ducats in his left hand, but keeping the right upon his sword-hilt.

He spoke once more.
"You have honorably fulfilled my conditions.

I know that it has not been easy.

For even though we may be free from prejudices, the atmosphere in which we live is so full of them that we cannot wholly escape their influence.