About noon
`` You shall see , '' answered the king . And at once horses were saddled , and preparations were made for a morning 's jaunt into the mountains . And , ere an hour had passed , Siegfried and his queen , and a small number of knights and ladies , were riding through the passes . About noon they came to Alberich 's dwelling , -- a frowning fortress of granite built in the mountain-side . The gate was opened by the sleepy giant who always sat within , and the party rode into the narrow court-yard . There they were met by Alberich , seeming smaller and grayer , and more pinched and wan , than ever before . `` Hail , noble master ! ''