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Linnet: A Romance
Linnet: A Romance

Chapter XXXVIII

Cover illustration for Linnet: A Romance
Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Linnet: A Romance

Chapter XXXVIII

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.
Line 2
Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.
Line 3
But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.
Line 4
By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.
Line 5
It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.”

Impulse noun US /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading “Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.”

All words in this reading · 91

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

accident

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

adopting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

anywhere

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

back

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

blood-stained

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

chances

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

committed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

crime

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

disappear

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

discomposed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

example

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

favour

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

FLIES

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

foolish

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

Forstemann

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

Franz's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

give

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

going

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

happened

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

happens

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

hasty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

he'd

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

helter-skelter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

HOME

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

hotel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

how

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

indeed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

Karl

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

lightly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

line

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

London

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

many

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

mere

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

murder

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

Nice

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

now

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

PIGEON

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

portmanteau

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

precipitate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

reclaim

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

retreat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

Robbler's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

room

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

run

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

scene

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

second

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

showed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

space

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

thoughts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.

throwing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading THE PIGEON FLIES HOME A Robbler’s not a man to be lightly discomposed by the mere accident that he happens to have committed a murder.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

Tyrol

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

valuable

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

Vienna

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

von

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading By adopting it, he would be throwing away many valuable chances which now told in his favour.

wholly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was wholly to the good, for example, that he’d happened to give his name all along the line as Karl von Forstemann from Vienna.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Franz’s first impulse, indeed, as he left that blood-stained room, was to run away helter-skelter from the scene of his hasty crime—to disappear into space—London, the Tyrol, anywhere—without even going back to his hotel at Nice to reclaim his portmanteau.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But second thoughts showed him how foolish so precipitate a retreat would be.