Casanova was introduced to Senator Alvise Malipiero as a means to profit from his social connections in his future professional career. Malipiero was 76 years old and a confirmed bachelor. In his youth, he had actively participated in the politics of the Republic, but now he was sick and retired. Nevertheless, each evening he entertained the cream of the Venetian society in his luxurious salons, even though the jovial host suffered from extreme pains as a result of severe gout. He claimed to have taken 20 mistresses during his lifetime, only stopping at that number when he realised the futility of trying to satisfy another one.