He was alone.

A hundred yards to his left, on the opposite side of the street, stood a gloomy but magnificent hotel, one of the few in this quarter that was surrounded by a walled court.

The hotel was dark.

So far as the man in the grey cloak could see, not a light filled any window.

There were two gates.
Toward the smaller of the two the man cautiously directed his steps.
He tried the latch.