code: def random_secret_exponent(curve_order):
      
      # run a rejection sampling algorithm to ensure the random int is less
      # than the curve order
      while True:
          # generate a random 256 bit hex string
          random_hex = hexlify(dev_urandom_entropy(32))
          random_int = int(random_hex, 16)
          if random_int >= 1 and random_int < curve_order:
              break
      return random_int
docs: Generates a random secret exponent.