The Red Rat's Daughter

Chapter XXIII

By Guy Boothby • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Red Rat's Daughter

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

As he lay turning the matter over and over in his mind, he remembered that he had heard the soft shutting of a door as he descended the companion-ladder, and also that Maas had betrayed considerable embarrassment when he entered the saloon.

It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XXIII Reading 1/28

The Red Rat's Daughter Guy Boothby

Chapter XXIII

Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one. He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope. He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success. As he lay turning the matter over and over in his mind, he remembered that he had heard the soft shutting of a door as he descended the companion-ladder, and also that Maas had betrayed considerable embarrassment when he entered the saloon. It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

The Red Rat's Daughter

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

Line 2

He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

Line 3

He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

Line 4

Line 5

It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

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 “Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.”

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.”

Descended noun US /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading “As he lay turning the matter over and over in his mind, he remembered that he had heard the soft shutting of a door as he descended the companion-ladder, and also that Maas had betrayed considerable embarrassment when he entered the saloon.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.”

Suppose noun US /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading “It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

absurd

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

From this reading It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

also

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

From this reading As he lay turning the matter over and over in his mind, he remembered that he had heard the soft shutting of a door as he descended the companion-ladder, and also that Maas had betrayed considerable embarrassment when he entered the saloon.

always

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

any

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

From this reading It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

become

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

betrayed

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

Browne's

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

cabin

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

chapter

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

companion-ladder

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

considerable

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

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

descendednounUS /ˈdescended/

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

described

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

disappearance

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

From this reading It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

door

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

embarrassment

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

end

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

entered

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

envelope

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

far

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

hand

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

From this reading It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

heard

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

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

how

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

hunted

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

incident

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

lack

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

lay

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

Maas

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

matter

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

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

mystery

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

night

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

number

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

pockets

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

previous

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

remembered

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

saloon

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

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

searched

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

shutting

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

soft

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

solve

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

success

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading It was absurd, however, to suppose that he could have had any hand in its disappearance.

Taking

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

times

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

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

try

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

turning

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

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Taking one thing with another, Browne's night after the incident described at the end of the previous chapter was far from being a good one.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading He had hunted the cabin through and through, and searched his pockets times without number, but always with the same lack of success.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He could not, try how he would, solve the mystery as to what had become of that envelope.