“This tower,” said the guide, “is the scene of the murder of the two young princes, sons of Edward the Fourth, assassinated by order of their uncle, Richard the Third.” “Can we enter and examine it?” “The interior is not shown. It is occupied by some of the officers of the guard as private lodgings.” “Oh, think of such an ancient and tragical place being occupied as a dwelling, where people eat, drink, sleep and live! I wonder what my spiritual condition would be if I lived in such a place?” said Anna, gazing on the gray walls as she passed them. “This inner wall is fortified by twelve strong minor towers, all of them formerly used as prison-lodgings. I will show the most interesting of them as we go on,” said the guide. “But first I will take you to the White Tower,” he added, pointing to the imposing citadel that occupied the center. “I should take that to be _the_ Tower—the Tower _par-excellence_. Pray, is that the place where the old monarchs of England used to hold their court before Elizabeth’s time?” inquired Anna. “No, ma’am. The old Palace of the Tower was pulled down in the reign of James II. It occupied the south-east angle of the inner ward—there, you see, on the site of the present Ordnance office.” “What a pity a building so replete with interesting associations should have been destroyed,” said Anna. “There, ladies and gentlemen, that modern building which you see against the south wall of the White Tower, is the Horse Armory, where the equestrian statues of our kings, in their ancient armors, are arranged in state!” “Oh, yes, we have tickets for the Horse Armory—we will see that at once, if you please!” said General Lyon. They crossed towards the White Tower and the Horse Armory. “You now see before you, sir, the oldest and the newest of these structures joined together. The White Tower is the most ancient as well as the most imposing of the buildings,” said the guide. “So I should judge from its great size and central position,” remarked the General. “It was erected, sir, in 1080 by William the Conqueror as a stronghold against enemies, the rebellious Saxons, who opposed his reign. It is a magnificent specimen of Norman architecture. The walls are of immense thickness and strength. I will take you through it presently; but here we are at the Horse Armory, which is the most modern of all the tower buildings, quite modern indeed, a work of to-day, comparatively speaking, having been built in 1826. Your tickets, sir, if you please.” Dick, who held the tickets, passed them over to the warder, who at once led his party to an ante-room of the Armory, where they were to wait for a new guide to take them through. “When you return here, sir,” said the guide, “I shall be happy to show you through the White Tower, and all the other towers of the inner ward.” “Thanks,” said the General. And the man touched his hat and fell back.