six o'clock in the evening
The Cardinal did not hesitate . He had just received the fourth letter , and if he waited any longer Del Ferice would take alarm , and slip through his fingers . He wrote with his own hand a note to the chief of police , ordering the immediate arrest of Ugo dei Conti del Ferice , with instructions that he should be taken in his own house , without any publicity , and conveyed in a private carriage to the Sant ' Uffizio by men in plain clothes . It was six o'clock in the evening when he wrote the order , and delivered it to his private servant to be taken to its destination . The man lost no time , and within twenty minutes the chief of police was in possession of his orders , which he hastened to execute with all possible speed . Before seven o'clock two respectable-looking citizens were seated in the chief 's own carriage , driving rapidly in the direction of Del Fence 's house . In less than half an hour the man who had caused so much trouble would be safely lodged in the prisons of the Holy Office , to be judged for his sins as a political spy .