“Oh, think of such an ancient and tragical place being occupied as a dwelling, where people eat, drink, sleep and live! I wonder what my spiritual condition would be if I lived in such a place?” said Anna, gazing on the gray walls as she passed them.
“This inner wall is fortified by twelve strong minor towers, all of them formerly used as prison-lodgings. I will show the most interesting of them as we go on,” said the guide. “But first I will take you to the White Tower,” he added, pointing to the imposing citadel that occupied the center.
“I should take that to be the Tower—the Tower par-excellence. Pray, is that the place where the old monarchs of England used to hold their court before Elizabeth’s time?” inquired Anna.
“No, ma’am. The old Palace of the Tower was pulled down in the reign of James II. It occupied the south-east angle of the inner ward—there, you see, on the site of the present Ordnance office.”
“What a pity a building so replete with interesting associations should have been destroyed,” said Anna.
“There, ladies and gentlemen, that modern building which you see against the south wall of the White Tower, is the Horse Armory, where the equestrian statues of our kings, in their ancient armors, are arranged in state!”
“Oh, yes, we have tickets for the Horse Armory—we will see that at once, if you please!” said General Lyon.
They crossed towards the White Tower and the Horse Armory.
“You now see before you, sir, the oldest and the newest of these structures joined together. The White Tower is the most ancient as well as the most imposing of the buildings,” said the guide.
“So I should judge from its great size and central position,” remarked the General.