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The Crystal Stopper
The Crystal Stopper

Chapter XII

Cover illustration for The Crystal Stopper
Context Illustration Reading 1/127 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.
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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 Stopper

Chapter XII

Reading 1/127 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.
Line 2
The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.
Line 3
Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.
Line 4
It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.
Line 5
Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

Learner Dictionary

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

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.”

Nevertheless adverb US /ˌnevərðəˈles/

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading “Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.”

Question noun US /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading “Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.”

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 Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

absolute

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

actions

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

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

all

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

astonishing

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

authority

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.

became

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

certainty

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

child's

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

From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.

claptrap

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

conjuring

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

CROSS

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

crystal

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

decision

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

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

delay

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

difficulty

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

From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.

discovered

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.

doubt

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

From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.

essential

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

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

final

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

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

finished

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

game

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

guessed

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

hiding-place

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

infallible

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

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

joking

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

list

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

longer

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

LORRAINE

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

love

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

lunch

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

Lupin

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

mastery

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

moment

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

NeverthelessadverbUS /ˌnevərðəˈles/

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

Now

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

off

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

once

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

past

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

people

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

perform

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

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

perspicacity

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

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

play

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

From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.

playing

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

possessed

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

presented

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

From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.

promptness

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

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

questionnounUS /ˈquestion/

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

recovered

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.

rubber

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

speak

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

stopper

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Nevertheless, it was essential that he should perform these final actions with promptness, decision and infallible perspicacity.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

transition

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

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

tricks

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

Twenty-seven

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It was child’s play, no doubt, and what remained to be done presented no difficulty.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Now that he had discovered the crystal stopper in the hiding-place which he had guessed with absolute certainty, now that he possessed the list of the Twenty-seven, it became a question of playing off the last game of the rubber without delay.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading THE CROSS OF LORRAINE The moment Lupin had finished lunch, he at once and, so to speak, without transition, recovered all his mastery and authority.

yield

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

From this reading The time for joking was past; and he must no longer yield to his love of astonishing people with claptrap and conjuring tricks.