The note said, next door to the Golden Maid, but it did not say on which side.

He scrutinised the nearer house, but he saw nothing to determine him; and he was proceeding to the farther, when he caught sight of two men, who, ambushed behind a horse-block on the opposite side of the roadway, seemed to be watching his movements.

Their presence flurried him; but much to his relief his next glance at the houses showed him that the door of the farther one was unlatched.

It stood slightly ajar, permitting a beam of light to escape into the street.
He stepped quickly to it--the sooner he was within the house the better--pushed the door open and entered.

As soon as he was inside he tried to close the entrance behind him, but he found he could not; the door would not shut.