The longer I looked, however, the less comfort I derived from my inspection.

I saw before me a gloomy stronghold of brick, four-square, and built in the old Italian manner, with battlements at the top, and a small machicolation, little more than a string-course, above each story; this serving at once to lessen the monotony of the dead-walls, and to add to the frowning weight of the upper part.

The windows were few and small, and the house looked damp and mouldy; lichens clotted the bricks, and moss filled the string-courses.

A low door opening from the lane into the garden naturally attracted my attention; but it proved to be of abnormal strength, and bolted both at the top and bottom.
Assured that nothing could be done on that side, and being unwilling to remain longer in the neighbourhood, lest I should attract attention, I returned to the street, and twice walked past the front of the house, seeing all I could with as little appearance of seeing anything as I could compass.

The front retreated somewhat from the line of the street, and was flanked on the farther side by stables.