Within the railings is a flower-garden of respectable dahlias and chrysanthemums, where a man is sweeping the leaves from the grass.
Stephen selects a doorway, and ascends an old though wide wooden staircase, with moulded balusters and handrail, which in a country manor-house would be considered a noteworthy specimen of Renaissance workmanship.

He reaches a door on the first floor, over which is painted, in black letters, 'Mr.Henry Knight'-- 'Barrister-at-law' being understood but not expressed.

The wall is thick, and there is a door at its outer and inner face.

The outer one happens to be ajar: Stephen goes to the other, and taps.
'Come in!' from distant penetralia.
First was a small anteroom, divided from the inner apartment by a wainscoted archway two or three yards wide.

Across this archway hung a pair of dark-green curtains, making a mystery of all within the arch except the spasmodic scratching of a quill pen.