about three in the afternoon
Positively they were treated like dumb cattle ; locked up , fed , deprived of liberty and fresh air ; no communication with friends outside ; and , worst of all , no idea in the world of the cause of their imprisonment . They came to the conclusion that they were mistaken for some other parties -- for some _ Cacciatori degli Alpi _ ; and Buttons insisted that the Senator was supposed to be Garibaldi himself . In these troublous times any idea , however absurd , might be acted upon . At about three in the afternoon the door was thrown open , and a file of soldiers appeared . An officer approached and requested the prisoners to follow . They did so . They passed along many halls , and at length came to a large room .