noon
as the gorgeous barge shot towards the fortress . The earl acknowledged their greeting by vailing his plumed cap ; and passing the keepers with a merry allusion to their care of his own badge , and a friendly compliment to the grunting bear , he stepped ashore , followed by his kinsman . Now , however , he paused a moment ; and a more thoughtful shade passed over his countenance , as , glancing his eye carelessly aloft towards the standard of King Edward , he caught sight of the casement in the neighbouring tower , of the very room in which the sovereign of his youth , Henry the Sixth , was a prisoner , almost within hearing of the revels of his successor ; then , with a quick stride , he hurried on through the vast court , and , passing the White Tower , gained the royal lodge . Here , in the great hall , he left his companion , amidst a group of squires and gentlemen , to whom he formally presented the Nevile as his friend and kinsman , and was ushered by the deputy-chamberlain -LRB- with an apology for the absence of his chief , the Lord Hastings , who had gone abroad to fly his falcon -RRB- into the small garden , where Edward was idling away the interval between the noon and evening meals , -- repasts to which already the young king inclined with that intemperate zest and ardour which he carried into all his pleasures , and which finally destroyed the handsomest person and embruted one of the most vigorous intellects of the age . The garden , if bare of flowers , supplied their place by the various and brilliant-coloured garbs of the living beauties assembled on its straight walks and smooth sward . Under one of those graceful cloisters , which were the taste of the day , and had been recently built and gayly decorated , the earl was stopped in his path by a group of ladies playing at closheys -LRB- ninepins -RRB- of ivory ; -LSB- Narrative of Louis of Bruges , Lord Grauthuse . Edited by Sir F. Madden , `` Archaelogia , '' 1836 . -RSB-