A critic of this age would have pronounced the house fortelesque in style, except for the windows, with which it was unusually garnished, and the ornate finish of the doorways or gates.

The western windows were four in number, the northern only two, all set on the line of the second story in such manner as to overhang the thoroughfares below.
The gates were the only breaks of wall externally visible in the first story; and, besides being so thickly riven with iron bolts as to suggest resistance to battering-rams, they were protected by cornices of marble, handsomely executed, and of such bold projection as to assure visitors well informed of the people that the rich man who resided there was a Sadducee in politics and creed.
Not long after the young Jew parted from the Roman at the palace up on the Market-place, he stopped before the western gate of the house described, and knocked.

The wicket (a door hung in one of the valves of the gate) was opened to admit him.

He stepped in hastily, and failed to acknowledge the low salaam of the porter.
To get an idea of the interior arrangement of the structure, as well as to see what more befell the youth, we will follow him.
The passage into which he was admitted appeared not unlike a narrow tunnel with panelled walls and pitted ceiling.

There were benches of stone on both sides, stained and polished by long use.