noon
To make doubly sure , Casanova added the most terrible oath that if , by a word to the gaoler , Soradici should presume to frustrate the divine intentions , he would immediately strangle him with his own hands . On October 31st Lorenzo paid his usual daily visit early in the morning . After his departure they waited some hours , Soradici in expectant terror , Casanova in sheer impatience to be at work . Promptly at noon fell heavy blows overhead , and then , in a cloud of plaster and broken laths , the heavenly messenger descended clumsily into Casanova 's arms . Soradici found this tall , gaunt , bearded figure , clad in a dirty shirt and a pair of leather breeches , of a singularly unangelic appearance ; indeed , he looked far more like a devil . When he produced a pair of scissors , so that the spy might cut Casanova 's beard , which , like the angel 's , had grown in captivity , Soradici ceased to have any illusions on the score of Balbi 's celestial nature . Although still intrigued -- since he could not guess at the secret correspondence that had passed between Casanova and Balbi -- he perceived quite clearly that he had been fooled .