He rapped very loudly; but poor Hester, who sat at the front hall, heard nothing of the noise.
He knew that from the back-garden he could make his way to the front, with more or less of violence.

Between the gardener's cottage and the laundry there was a covered passage leading to the front, the buildings above being continuous, but leaving a way through for the convenience of the servants.

This, however, was guarded by a trellis-work gate.

But even on this gate the gardener had managed to fix a lock.

When Caldigate reached the spot the man was standing, idle and observant, at his own cottage door.