noon
`` Yes -- air -- air ! '' repeated Adam , rising . Sibyll placed his bonnet over his silvered locks , drew his gown more closely round him , and slowly and in silence they left the chamber , and took their way across the court to the ramparts of the fortress - palace . The day was calm and genial , with a low but fresh breeze stirring gently through the warmth of noon . The father and child seated themselves on the parapet , and saw , below , the gay and numerous vessels that glided over the sparkling river , while the dark walls of Baynard 's Castle , the adjoining bulwark and battlements of Montfichet , and the tall watch-tower of Warwick 's mighty mansion frowned in the distance against the soft blue sky . `` There , '' said Adam , quietly , and pointing to the feudal roofs , `` there seems to rise power , and yonder -LRB- glancing to the river -RRB- , yonder seems to flow Genius ! A century or so hence the walls shall vanish , but the river shall roll on .