Her cardinal himself had invited me to dinner.

Would he have done so if he had admitted the possibility of the beautiful marchioness feeling anything for me?
Of course not, and he gave me an invitation to dine with him only because he had understood, from the very words of the lady, that I was just the sort of person with whom they could converse for a few hours without any risk; to be sure, without any risk whatever.

Oh, Master Casanova! do you really think so?
Well, why should I put on a mask before my readers?
They may think me conceited if they please, but the fact of the matter is that I felt sure of having made a conquest of the marchioness.

I congratulated myself because she had taken the first, most difficult, and most important step.
Had she not done so, I should never have dared-to lay siege to her even in the most approved fashion; I should never have even ventured to dream of winning her.

It was only this evening that I thought she might replace Lucrezia.