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Nick Carter Stories No. 131, March 13, 1915
Nick Carter Stories No. 131, March 13, 1915

Chapter VII · Chick Carter’s Cunning

Cover illustration for Nick Carter Stories No. 131, March 13, 1915
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
The removal of the disguise did not improve him.
It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Nick Carter Stories No. 131, March 13, 1915

Chapter VII · Chick Carter’s Cunning

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.
Line 2
The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.
Line 3
Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.
Line 4
The removal of the disguise did not improve him.
Line 5
It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.”

Determined adjective US /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading “It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.”

Disguise noun US /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.

From this reading “The removal of the disguise did not improve him.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.”

Required noun US /required/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.”

All words in this reading · 93

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 Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

apartments

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

beard

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

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

bulldog

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

car

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

caution

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

charge

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

chauffeur

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

chin

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

companion

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

degree

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

desperate

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

determinedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/

having firmly decided to do something

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.

disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.

From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.

door

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

entered

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

entering

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

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

face

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

following

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

hard

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

hide

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

hour

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

House

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

improve

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

From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

insistent

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

Janet

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

jaw

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

knock

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

leaving

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

lines

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

man

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

Miss

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

mission

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

moderate

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

mouth

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

neighboring

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.

o'clock

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

Payson

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

Payson's

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

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

pocket

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

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

removal

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

From this reading The removal of the disguise did not improve him.

removed

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

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

requirednounUS /required/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

seriously

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

served

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

Shelby

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

sinister

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

slipped

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

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

somewhat

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

sounded

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

startled

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

street

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

ten

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

thin-lipped

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It had served to hide a thin-lipped, sinister mouth, a bulldog jaw and chin, and the hard lines of a desperate and determined face.

touring

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

true

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

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

Vandyke

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

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Miss Janet Payson was seriously startled about ten o’clock the following morning, when a somewhat insistent knock sounded on the door of her apartments in the Shelby House.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The same was true of her companion, who had entered about half an hour before, after leaving his touring car in a neighboring street, in charge of a chauffeur and another man, as if their mission was one that required at least a moderate degree of caution.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Janet Payson’s companion was the man with a Vandyke beard—but he had removed it and slipped it into his pocket since entering.