According to Inquisition records for August 21, 1755:
"The Tribunal has taken cognizance of the grave misdemeanors committed by Giacomo Casanova, chief among them being his public abuse of sacred religion, wherefore their Excellencies have had him arrested and brought to the leads."
Casanova met Henriette when she was disguised in drag to accomodate a Prussian Officer. He stole her away,then admitted he had no resources and was dumped with the words:
"If you ever happen to run into me in the future, make believe we never met."
But she too loved Casanova. It was Henriette who inscribed, with her diamond, on a window pane, when she left, the heart wrenching farewell:
"Et tu oublieras aussi Henriette." - (And you will also forget Henriette.)
But he didn't. No writer I've read ever read had a better memory than Casanova. He forgot NOTHING. And NO ONE. Especially the wonderful 18th Century women who, like Casanova himself, were surviving in a world where the "glass ceiling" was fixed at birth. In the 18th Century, If you weren't born to nobility you had better be VERY CLEVER.
Casanova, Henriette, and many of the other personalities and characters lovingly portrayed in his Les Memoires were survivors indeed.
Questions? Comments? Write me at DrJohn@idiom.com
