noon
The doors of the stronghold being undone , displayed a dungeon such as in those days held victims hopeless of escape , but in which the ingenious knave of modern times would scarcely have deigned to remain many hours . The huge rings by which the fetters were soldered together , and attached to the human body , were , when examined minutely , found to be clenched together by riveting so very thin , that when rubbed with corrosive acid , or patiently ground with a bit of sandstone , the hold of the fetters upon each other might easily be forced asunder , and the purpose of them entirely frustrated . The locks also , large , and apparently very strong , were so coarsely made , that an artist of small ingenuity could easily contrive to get the better of their fastenings upon the same principle . The daylight found its way to the subterranean dungeon only at noon , and through a passage which was purposely made tortuous , so as to exclude the rays of the sun , while it presented no obstacle to wind or rain . The doctrine that a prisoner was to be esteemed innocent until he should be found guilty by his peers , was not understood in those days of brute force , and he was only accommodated with a lamp or other alleviation of his misery , if his demeanour was quiet , and he appeared disposed to give his jailor no trouble by attempting to make his escape . Such a cell of confinement was that of Bertram , whose moderation of temper and patience had nevertheless procured for him such mitigations of his fate as the warder could grant . He was permitted to carry into his cell the old book , in the perusal of which he found an amusement of his solitude , together with writing materials , and such other helps towards spending his time as were consistent with his abode in the bosom of the rock , and the degree of information with which his minstrel craft had possessed him .