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The Woman in the Alcove
The Woman in the Alcove

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for The Woman in the Alcove
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.
But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.
“I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.
Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.
Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?
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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 Woman in the Alcove

Chapter IX

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.
Line 2
But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.
Line 3
“I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.
Line 4
Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.
Line 5
Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.”

Amongst preposition US /əˈmʌŋst/

surrounded by; in the company of

From this reading “Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?”

Gasp noun US /ɡæsp/

a sudden sharp intake of breath

From this reading “I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.”

Stopped noun US /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

able

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

amongstprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋst/

surrounded by; in the company of

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

certain

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

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

child

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

coffee-cups

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

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

considered

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

curiosity

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

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

debris

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

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

declaration

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

From this reading “I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

evidently

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

excuse

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

From this reading “I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.

expressed

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

fact

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

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

Fairbrother's

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

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

feet

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

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.

forbidding

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

formulate

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

gaspnounUS /ɡæsp/

a sudden sharp intake of breath

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

hardly

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

hastily

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

inspector

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

meet

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

monstrous

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

From this reading “I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.

Mrs

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

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

mystery

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

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

only

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

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

Perhaps

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

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

person

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

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

proceeded

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

ravings

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

rebuke

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

regard

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

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

restrain

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

satisfy

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

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

senseless

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.

solved

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

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

some

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

From this reading “I have some excuse for a declaration so monstrous.

sought

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

speak

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

stern

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

there

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

thus

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

two

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

From this reading Inspector, have you ever solved the mystery of the two broken coffee-cups found amongst the debris at Mrs. Fairbrother’s feet?

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I stopped with a gasp, hardly able to meet the stern and forbidding look with which the inspector sought to restrain what he evidently considered the senseless ravings of a child.

words

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

From this reading But I had come there to speak, and I hastily proceeded before the rebuke thus expressed could formulate itself into words.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Perhaps I am the only person who can satisfy you in regard to a certain fact about which you have expressed some curiosity.