It was constructed of thin red bricks, and had two stories.

The windows of the lower story were sheltered under lofty, projecting granite cornices.
The upper story consisted entirely of small arches, forming a gallery; between the arches were iron gratings enriched with escutcheons; whilst upon the gables of the house more coats-of-arms were displayed.

The broad external staircase, of tinted bricks, abutted on the square.
At the foot of it sat guards, who with one hand held their halberds upright, and with the other supported their drooping heads, and in this attitude more resembled apparitions than living beings.

They neither slept nor dreamed, but seemed quite insensible to everything; they even paid no attention to who went up the stairs.

At the head of the stairs, they found a richly-dressed warrior, armed cap-a-pie, and holding a breviary in his hand.