nearly six o'clock in the afternoon
He often thought of it and promised himself that he would visit his anger on Del Ferice if he ever got a chance ; but Del Ferice was out of reach of his vengeance , and Donna Tullia Mayer had not returned to Rome since the previous year . It had been rumoured of late that she had at last fulfilled the engagement contracted some time earlier , and had consented to be called the Contessa Del Ferice ; this piece of news , however , was not yet fully confirmed . Gouache had heard the gossip , and had immediately made a lively sketch on the back of a half-finished picture , representing Donna Tullia , in her bridal dress , leaning upon the arm of Del Ferice , who was arrayed in a capuchin 's cowl , and underneath , with his brush , he scrawled a legend , `` Finis coronat opus . '' It was nearly six o'clock in the afternoon of the 23d of September . The day had been rainy , but the sky had cleared an hour before sunset , and there was a sweet damp freshness in the air , very grateful after the long weeks of late summer . Anastase Gouache had been on duty at the Serristori barracks in the Borgo Santo Spirito and walked briskly up to the bridge of Sant ' Angelo . There was not much movement in the streets , and the carriages were few .