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The traitor's way
The traitor's way

Chapter XX

Cover illustration for The traitor's way
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.
Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.
I saw myself in all my infamy.
I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.
But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The traitor's way

Chapter XX

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.
Line 2
Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.
Line 3
I saw myself in all my infamy.
Line 4
I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.
Line 5
But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.”

Conscience noun US /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

the inner sense of right and wrong

From this reading “But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.”

Dead noun US /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “I saw myself in all my infamy.”

Neither determiner US /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading “But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.”

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.”

Whither adverb US /ˈwɪðər/

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading “A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

all

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

From this reading I saw myself in all my infamy.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

bitter

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

blanched

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

burned

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

careless

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

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

consciencenounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəns/

the inner sense of right and wrong

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

coward

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

craven

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

cursed

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

deadnounUS /dead/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

fierce

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

flung

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

footsteps

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

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

guilty

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

hand

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

heart

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

home

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

HURRIED

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

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I saw myself in all my infamy.

infamy

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

From this reading I saw myself in all my infamy.

insult

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

keeping

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

led

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

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

lesson

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

light

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

limbs

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

lips

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

looking

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

makes

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I saw myself in all my infamy.

neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/

not one and not the other of two

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

nerved

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

poured

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

QUOTATION

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

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

Richelieu's

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

saw

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

From this reading I saw myself in all my infamy.

scorn

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

shrivelled

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

soul

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

speech

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

strike

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.

trembling

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

utterly

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

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

very

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

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

VIRGIL

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

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

whitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading A QUOTATION FROM VIRGIL I HURRIED on, utterly careless whither my footsteps led.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But a guilty conscience makes a craven soul, and the lesson was brought home to me, as with blanched lips and trembling limbs I went on, keeping in the shadow, looking neither to the right nor to the left.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Richelieu’s speech burned within me, and my very soul shrivelled under the fierce light he had poured upon it.

words

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

From this reading I cursed, again and again, the coward heart that had not nerved my hand to strike him dead, as he flung at me those bitter words of insult and scorn.