Beside the arcade, but nearer to the rue des Vergetiers, the tower of
the Belfry rises. We perceive a platform at the top of the tower,
surrounded by an iron railing, from whence is a view of the whole town.
Above is a dome, surmounted by a small steeple.


THE COVERED MARKETS.

About the middle of the Xth century, Richard Ist, surnamed
_Sans-Peur_, and third duke of Normandy, caused a palace to be erected
on the Seine, which consisted of a large tower and served at the same
time as a defence to the town. It was also the state prison. Henry Ist
added several buildings. Several fortifications had been previously
erected, the former being then called the Vielle-Tour (old Tower). This
tower was destroyed by Philip-Augustus; it was there, according to the
greater number of historians, that in 1204 the cruel John-Sans-Terre
caused his nephew, Arthur of Britanny, to be confined, and murdered him
with his own hand. The present _halles_ (covered markets) occupy the
greater portion of the site formerly occupied by the palace and the
_Vieille-Tour_, which has left its name to the two markets we are
presently going to speak of.

Those vast warehouses for different manufactures, called _halles_ (or
marts), were erected in the second half of the XIIIth century, about
the time when Lewis IXth fixed the fifth enclosure of the town of
Rouen. These marts are considered the most important in France. The most
considerable portion, and also the most ancient of the whole building,
is set apart for the sale of linen cloths. Its length is two hundred and
seventy two feet, by fifty in breadth. The roof is supported by two rows