The nearer I got to that , the drearier it appeared . It seemed like the one wing of a house that had never been finished . What should have been the inner end stood open on the upper floors , and showed against the sky with steps and stairs of uncompleted masonry . Many of the windows were unglazed , and bats flew in and out like doves out of a dove-cote . The night had begun to fall as I got close ; and in three of the lower windows , which were very high up and narrow , and well barred , the changing light of a little fire began to glimmer . Was this the palace I had been coming to ? Was it within these walls that I was to seek new friends and begin great fortunes ? Why , in my father 's house on Essen-Waterside , the fire and the bright lights would show a mile away , and the door open to a beggar 's knock ! I came forward cautiously , and giving ear as I came , heard some one rattling with dishes , and a little dry , eager cough that came in fits ; but there was no sound of speech , and not a dog barked . The door , as well as I could see it in the dim light , was a great piece of wood all studded with nails ; and I lifted my hand with a faint heart under my jacket , and knocked once . Then I stood and waited . The house had fallen into a dead silence ; a whole minute passed away , and nothing stirred but the bats overhead . I knocked again , and hearkened again . By this time my ears had grown so accustomed to the quiet , that I could hear the ticking of the clock inside as it slowly counted out the seconds ; but whoever was in that house kept deadly still , and must have held his breath . I was in two minds whether to run away ; but anger got the upper hand , and I began instead to rain kicks and buffets on the door , and to shout out aloud for Mr. Balfour . I was in full career , when I heard the cough right overhead , and jumping back and looking up , beheld a man 's head in a tall nightcap , and the bell mouth of a blunderbuss , at one of the first-storey windows . `` It 's loaded , '' said a voice . `` I have come here with a letter , '' I said , `` to Mr. Ebenezer Balfour of Shaws . Is he here ? '' `` From whom is it ? ''
asked the man with the XXXXX .
Essen-Waterside Shaws blunderbuss fall fire minute night nightcap right seconds