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The crystal claw
The crystal claw

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for The crystal claw
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”
I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.
“Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.
Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.
“By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.
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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.

The crystal claw

Chapter XXII

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

Line 1
THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”
Line 2
I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.
Line 3
“Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.
Line 4
Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.
Line 5
“By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

Learner Dictionary

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

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.”

SECRET noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?””

Sometimes noun US /sometimes/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

assume

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

Audley

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

Audley's

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

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

best

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

breathless

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

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

clever

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

cleverly

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

disappearance

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

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

DISCLOSED

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

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

discovered

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

eagerness

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

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

electrical

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

engineer

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

enigma

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

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

extent

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

fallen

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

Feng

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

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

finding

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

forgers

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

friend

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

gang

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

Graydon

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

Graydon's

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

house

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

Humphreys

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

identity

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

impossible

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

inducing

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

level

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

lived

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

man

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

marriage

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

means

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

mystery

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

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

named

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

note

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

now

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

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

own

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

pretended

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

prevent

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

profession

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

purposes

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

solution

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

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

sometimes

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I asked Feng, in breathless eagerness, now that the enigma was in course of solution.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

used

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

From this reading “By clever means this gang had used Audley for their own purposes, even to the extent of sometimes inducing him to assume Graydon’s identity.

very

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

Well

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading THE SECRET DISCLOSED “But what was the mystery of Audley’s disappearance?”

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.

work

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

From this reading “Well, Humphreys at first did his level best to prevent the marriage, but finding that impossible he went very cleverly to work.

young

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

From this reading Audley, who was a young man of means--though he pretended that his profession was that of electrical engineer--had, Humphreys discovered, fallen into the hands of a man named Graydon, a friend of his, who lived in the same house as Audley and who was one of a gang of note forgers.