midnight
By dusk he had made a hole twice as large as was necessary , and had laid bare the lead sheeting with which the roof was covered . Unable , single-handed , to raise one of the sheets , he called Balbi to his aid , and between them , assisted by the spontoon , which Casanova inserted between the edge of the sheet and the gutter , they at last succeeded in tearing away the rivets . Then by putting their shoulders to the lead they bent it upwards until there was room to emerge , and a view of the sky flooded by the vivid light of the crescent moon . Not daring in that light to venture upon the roof , where they would be seen , they must wait with what patience they could until midnight , when the moon would have set . So they returned to the cell where they had left Soradici with Count Asquino . From Balbi , Casanova had learnt that Asquino , though well supplied with money , was of an avaricious nature . Nevertheless , since money would be necessary , Casanova asked the Count for the loan of thirty gold sequins .