Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Place of Dragons: A Mystery
The Place of Dragons: A Mystery

Chapter XXIV

Cover illustration for The Place of Dragons: A Mystery
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.
At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.
Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.
Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.
The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Place of Dragons: A Mystery

Chapter XXIV

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.
Line 2
At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.
Line 3
Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.
Line 4
Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.
Line 5
The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.”

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading “MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.”

Deserted verb US /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading “At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.”

Hailed noun US /hailed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.”

Smoking noun US /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading “MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.”

Westward adverb US /ˈwɛstwərd/

toward the west

From this reading “The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.”

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 MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

Andrew

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

apparently

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

Bride

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

came

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

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

cigar

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

concealment

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

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

confederates

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

convinced

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

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

corner

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

crossed

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

left a place or vessel without intending to return

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

difficult

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

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

DISCLOSURE

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

distance

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

down

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

drove

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

enjoyment

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

extremely

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

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

far

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

felt

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

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

fortunately

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

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

full

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

hailednounUS /hailed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

happy

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

harm

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

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

Hill

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

Holborn

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

hour

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

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

Lane

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

leisurely

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

Ludgate

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

MAKES

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

man

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

off

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

offices

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

old

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

passing

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

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

practically

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

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

put

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

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

Rayner

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

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

recognized

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

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

see

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

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

Shoe

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

some

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

St

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

STARTLING

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

Street

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

strolled

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

strolling

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

swiftly

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

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

taken

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

taxi

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

thoroughfare

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

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Behind me came Rayner to see, as he swiftly put it, "that no harm came" to me.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

two

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

walk

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

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.

walking

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

From this reading MAKES A STARTLING DISCLOSURE He crossed Holborn, walking leisurely, and smoking a cigar, and continued down St. Andrew Street and along towards Shoe Lane, I strolling after him at some distance behind.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At that hour the thoroughfare was practically deserted, therefore concealment was extremely difficult.

watched

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

watchers

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

westwardadverbUS /ˈwɛstwərd/

toward the west

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The old man in the full enjoyment of his cigar, and apparently quite happy that if his offices were watched his two confederates would have taken off the watchers, strolled along St. Bride Street as far as the corner of Ludgate Hill, when he hailed a taxi and drove westward.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet by his leisurely walk I felt convinced that in passing he had, fortunately, not recognized me.