One fine morning of July, 1755, Giovanni Giacomo Casanova, a Venetian, was sleeping peacefully in his bed, not in the least disturbed by the consciousness of his many ill deeds. The daylight came, and whit it Messer Grande, the officer of the State Inquisitors. He stood by Casanova’s bed, asked him if he were indeed Casanova, and then ordered him to get up, dress, give up all his papers and manuscripts and follow where he was led. “On whose authority do you order me to do this?” asked Casanova. “By the authority of the Tribunal”.