circumference [səˈkʌmfrəns], architectural [ˌɑ:kɪˈtekʧərəl], edifice [eˈdɪfɪs]

The circumference of the wall was not great, but the number of green stone buildings it contained was surprising. They were three or four stories in height, mainly flat-roofed, reflecting a fine architectural style. The streets converged like the spokes of a wheel into an octagon-shaped court in the centre of the town, which gave upon a lofty edifice, which, with its domes and towers, dominated the whole city. He saw no one moving in the streets or looking out of the windows, though the sun was already coming up. The silence that reigned there might have been that of a dead and deserted city. A narrow stone stair ascended the wall near him; down this he went.

Houses shouldered so closely to the wall (дома толклись/жались так близко к стене; to shoulder — толкать плечом) that halfway down the stair (что на полпути вниз по лестнице), he found himself within arm's length of a window and halted to peer in (он оказался на расстоянии вытянутой руки от окна и остановился, чтобы заглянуть вовнутрь; to find oneself — оказаться; очутиться; at arm's length — на расстоянии вытянутой руки). There were no bars (решеток не было), and the silk curtains were caught back with satin cords (а шелковые занавески были прихвачены сзади = отдернуты назад с помощью атласных шнуров; to catch — ловить; схватить; зацепить). He looked into a chamber (он заглянул в комнату) whose walls were hidden by dark velvet tapestries (стены которой были скрыты темными бархатными гобеленами; to hide — скрывать, прятать). The floor was covered with thick rugs (пол был покрыт толстыми коврами), and there were benches of polished ebony and an ivory dais heaped with furs (и стояли скамьи из полированного эбенового дерева и помост из слоновой кости, заваленный мехами; to heap — бросать в кучу, складывать в кучу, нагромождать).

curtain [kə:tn], ivory [ˈaɪvərɪ], dais [ˈdeɪɪs]