noon
Yet still he was innocent ; and Father Francis so believed him that , after pronouncing absolution and blessing , he hastened from the prisoner to the King to implore a yet longer reprieve . But Ferdinand , though more moved by the Prior 's recital than he chose to display , remained firm ; he had pledged his kingly word to the chief of the Santa Hermandad that the award of justice should not be waived without proof of innocence , and he could not draw back . One chance only he granted , urged to do so by an irresistible impulse , which how often comes we know not wherefore , till the event marks it as the whisper of some guardian angel , who has looked into the futurity concealed from us . The hour of the execution had been originally fixed for the sixth hour of the morning ; it was postponed till noon . The morning dawned , and with its first beams came Father Francis to the prisoner . He found him calm and resigned : his last thought of earth was to commend Marie , if ever found , to the holy father 's care , conjuring him to deal gently and mercifully with a spirit so broken , and lead her to the sole fountain of peace by kindness , not by wrath ; and to tell her how faithfully he had loved her to the last . Much affected , Father Francis promised -- aye , even to protect , if possible , an unbeliever .