The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Volume 09: the False Nun

A restless spirit narrates his own excesses with astonishing honesty, confessing how the thrill of the casino eclipses even the comforts of wealth. He pulls the listener into a world where games of chance are as much about ego as about money, and where every loss fuels an unquenchable urge to gamble again. His self‑critical tone offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a legendary libertine who treats both living and playing as one seamless art.

The tale unfolds over a sumptuous supper hosted for a French ambassador and his enigmatic companion, a woman who pretends to be a nun. Their conversation bubbles with witty repartee, diplomatic intrigue, and hinted romances, while the narrator’s reputation for intrigue hangs in the balance. When the “false nun” proposes a daring rendez‑vous that could bind them together, the listener senses the intoxicating mix of charm and danger that will shape the next chapter of his adventurous life.