eight o'clock
... `` It shows how rightly I judged the moral elevation of your soul , your impeccability , your spirit of fire and your heart of gold . '' While the letters were burning she felt herself to be under the influence of a kind of delirium . It was almost as though she were committing murder . The Pope had begun the day with the long task of administering the sacrament to the lay members of his household , yet at eight o'clock he was back in his library in the midst of his morning receptions surrounded by a bevy of camerieri , monsignori , and messengers . First came a Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda to report the doings of his congregation ; then an ambassador from Spain to tell of the suppression of religious orders ; and finally the majordomo to recite the official programme for the public ceremonies which the Pope had ordered for Holy Thursday . It was now ten o'clock , and Cortis , the valet , brought the usual plate of soup . Then came a large man with bold features and dark complexion , wearing a purple robe edged with red and a red biretta .