ten o'clock
Dare I confess the fact , without injuring his character for ever as a hero of romance ? These eyes gradually became heavy ; speculative doubts on the subject of religious controversy , and anxious conjectures concerning the state of his mistress 's affections , became confusedly blended together in his musings ; the fatigues of a busy day prevailed over the harassing subjects of contemplation which occupied his mind , and he fell fast asleep . Sound were his slumbers , until they were suddenly dispelled by the iron tongue of the castle-bell , which sent its deep and sullen sounds wide over the bosom of the lake , and awakened the echoes of Bennarty , the hill which descends steeply on its southern bank . Roland started up , for this bell was always tolled at ten o'clock , as the signal for locking the castle gates , and placing the keys under the charge of the seneschal . He therefore hastened to the wicket by which the garden communicated with the building , and had the mortification , just as he reached it , to hear the bolt leave its sheath with a discordant crash , and enter the stone groove of the door-lintel . `` Hold , hold , '' cried the page , `` and let me in ere you lock the wicket . '' The voice of Dryfesdale replied from within , in his usual tone of embittered sullenness , `` The hour is passed , fair master -- you like not the inside of these walls -- even make it a complete holiday , and spend the night as well as the day out of bounds . ''