But it chanced I had scarce given him the address, when there came a sprinkle of rain--nothing to hurt, only for my new clothes--and we took shelter under a pend at the head of a close or alley.
Being strange to what I saw, I stepped a little farther in.

The narrow paved way descended swiftly.

Prodigious tall houses sprang upon each side and bulged out, one story beyond another, as they rose.

At the top only a ribbon of sky showed in.

By what I could spy in the windows, and by the respectable persons that passed out and in, I saw the houses to be very well occupied; and the whole appearance of the place interested me like a tale.
I was still gazing, when there came a sudden brisk tramp of feet in time and clash of steel behind me.