“It was erected, sir, in 1080 by William the Conqueror as a stronghold against enemies, the rebellious Saxons, who opposed his reign. It is a magnificent specimen of Norman architecture. The walls are of immense thickness and strength. I will take you through it presently; but here we are at the Horse Armory, which is the most modern of all the tower buildings, quite modern indeed, a work of to-day, comparatively speaking, having been built in 1826. Your tickets, sir, if you please.”
Dick, who held the tickets, passed them over to the warder, who at once led his party to an ante-room of the Armory, where they were to wait for a new guide to take them through.
“When you return here, sir,” said the guide, “I shall be happy to show you through the White Tower, and all the other towers of the inner ward.”
“Thanks,” said the General.
And the man touched his hat and fell back.
There were several other groups of sight-seers waiting in the ante-room for guides to conduct them.
And presently these guides appeared, bringing out parties they had been attending.
One of them beckoning our friends to follow him, led them straightways into a vast hall, some hundred feet in length by thirty in breadth, dimly lighted on each side by stained glass windows and decorated on the walls and ceiling with the most curious and valuable military trophies and emblems.
In glass cases under these windows were exhibited such wonders of warlike workmanship as are nowhere else gathered together—helmets, gauntlets, shields, swords, spears, lances and other specimens of armor, won from many a battle-field, stormed fortress, or sacked city, of all ages of history and all countries of the world. And each curious specimen had its equally curious history or legend.
Yet our party scarcely glanced at any of these or heard a word of the explanation uttered by their guide.