The sense that this was so being heavy upon me, I saw nothing for it but to use the knocker and gain admission, by fraud if I could, and if not, by force.

Accordingly I stepped briskly across the kennel, and made for the entrance.
When I was within two paces of the steps, however, someone abruptly threw the door open and stepped out.

The man did not notice me, and I stood quickly aside, hoping that at the last minute my chance had come.
Two men, who had apparently attended this first person downstairs, stood respectfully behind him, holding lights.

He paused a moment on the steps to adjust his cloak, and with more than a little surprise I recognised my acquaintance of the morning, M.de Bruhl.
I had scarcely time to identify him before he walked down the steps swinging his cane, brushed carelessly past me, and was gone.

The two men looked after him awhile, shading their lights from the wind, and one saying something, the other laughed coarsely.