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gate-house of the Castle at the usual hour of opening 
the same to visitors. The great Hall, however, not being yet 
ready for inspection, the old porter seemed to have a grim 
pleasure in retaining the suspects under his eye, and a weary 
twenty minutes were spent in this draughty place, its only merit 
being the protection it afforded from the pitiless downpour out- 
side. After some good-humoured bantering and a thorough 
inspection of the ivy-clad exterior of the inner gateway, and the 
murderous-looking square meurtritres over their heads, the signal 
was given for admission. Crossing the triangular platform with 
the Chinese bell on the left—trophy from one of the late wars— 
the main entrance to the great court of the Castle was passed, 
and the members entered the porch beneath a doorway composed 
of an arch with four plain straight sides, locally known as th 
Berkeley arch. Here the worthy housekeeper was in attendance 
to conduct the party through the portions of the Castle usually 
shown to visitors. Leaving the butteries on the left and turning 
to the right through the wooden screen, the fine hall, 61ft. long 
by 32ft. broad, with its open pointed roof, bore evident traces 
that its ancient uses were not in abeyance, and if not the scene 
now as formerly of revelry and feudal pomp, is certainly the very 
picture of aristocratic comfort. At one end is the raised dais 
covered with rich carpets, and a Tudor fireplace sending forth a 
cheerful warmth. At the other over the screen is the usual 
minstrel gallery. Pictures of ancestors range round the sides, 
and over the fireplace is a good portrait of one of the family by 
Gainsborough. Banners, swords, and antlers decorate the walls. 
Leaving this by a doorway on the right hand and passing up a 
short flight of broad wooden seventeenth century steps, family 
portraits by Sir Peter Lely and others, a couch and chair of 
ebony, said to have been the property of Sir Francis Drake, were 
pointed out, and a descent on the left hand by a modern doorway 
conducted to the singulariy interesting chapel. On the opposite 
or south side as you enter is a very picturesque mural passage 
