ten o'clock
They also earnestly begged him to send out orders , to the armed forces who were searching for the Huguenots , bidding them make no movement , whatever , until after midday . The councillor was then mounted on a horse and escorted , by two of the men-at-arms , to within a quarter of a mile of the nearest gate of the city . The men were to return with his horse . The councillor was informed that ten o'clock was the limit given for the return of the prisoners ; and that , unless they had by that hour arrived , it would be supposed that the order for their release would not be respected , and in that case the nine hostages would be hung forthwith ; and that , in the course of a night or two , another batch would be carried off . Philip had little fear , however , that there would be any hesitation , upon the part of those in the town , in acting upon the order signed by so many important persons ; for the death of the president , and several of the leading members of the parliament , would create such an outcry against the governor , by their friends and relatives , that he would not venture to refuse the release of four prisoners , of minor importance , in order to save their lives . After the messenger had departed , Philip had the guarantee for the safety of Monsieur de Merouville and his wife drawn up and signed , in duplicate . `` One of these documents , '' he said , `` I shall give to Monsieur de Merouville .