nearly noon
Chapter 2 . I . The Knight of Provence , and his Proposal . It was nearly noon as Adrian entered the gates of the palace of Stephen Colonna . The palaces of the nobles were not then as we see them now , receptacles for the immortal canvas of Italian , and the imperishable sculpture of Grecian Art ; but still to this day are retained the massive walls , and barred windows , and spacious courts , which at that time protected their rude retainers . High above the gates rose a lofty and solid tower , whose height commanded a wide view of the mutilated remains of Rome : the gate itself was adorned and strengthened on either side by columns of granite , whose Doric capitals betrayed the sacrilege that had torn them from one of the many temples that had formerly crowded the sacred Forum . From the same spoils came , too , the vast fragments of travertine which made the walls of the outer court .