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.

In a fortnight he was to have been married to Donna Tullia Mayer,--and her trousseau had just arrived from Paris.
It can hardly be said that the Cardinal's conduct was unjustifiable, though many will say that Del Fence's secret doings were easily defensible on the ground of his patriotism.