It(refers to the time or situation [ɪt]) was(past tense of 'to be', indicating a state of being in the past [wɑz]) close upon(nearly; almost [kloʊz əˈpɑn]) four(referring to four o'clock [fɔr]) before(preposition indicating time; earlier than [ˌbiˈfɔr]) the door(a hinged barrier used to close and open an entrance to a room or building [ðə dɔr]) opened(past tense of 'open', meaning to allow access or passage [ˈoʊpənd]), and(conjunction used to connect words or clauses [ənd]) a drunken-looking groom(a male servant who takes care of horses, appearing intoxicated [ə drunken-looking grum]), ill-kempt(having an untidy or disheveled appearance [ill-kempt]) and(conjunction connecting 'ill-kempt' and 'side-whiskered' [ənd]) side-whiskered(having hair growing on the sides of the face, especially below the ears [side-whiskered]), with(preposition indicating accompaniment or possession [wɪθ]) an inflamed face(a face that is red, swollen, and painful [ən ɪnˈfleɪmd feɪs]) and(conjunction connecting 'inflamed face' and 'disreputable clothes' [ənd]) disreputable clothes(clothes that are not respectable or in good condition [dɪsˈrɛpjətəbəl kloʊðz]), walked(past tense of 'walk', meaning to move on foot [wɔkt]) into(preposition indicating movement to or towards the inside of a place [ˈɪntu]) the room(a space enclosed by walls, a floor, and a ceiling [ðə rum]). Accustomed(used to; familiar with [əˈkəstəmd]) as(in the manner or role of [ɛz]) I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) was(past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]) to(preposition indicating direction or relationship [tɪ]) my friend’s(belonging to my friend [maɪ frɛndz]) amazing powers(remarkable abilities [əˈmeɪzɪŋ paʊərz]) in(preposition indicating location or means [ɪn]) the use of(the act of employing something [ðə juz əv]) disguises(things used to change one's appearance [dɪsˈgaɪzɪz]), I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) had to(was obliged to; necessary to [hæd tɪ]) look(to direct one's gaze [lʊk]) three times(on three separate occasions [θri taɪmz]) before(preposition indicating time; earlier than [ˌbiˈfɔr]) I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) was(past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]) certain(sure; confident [ˈsərtən]) that(conjunction introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]) it(pronoun referring to the person disguised as the groom [ɪt]) was(past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]) indeed(in truth; certainly [ˌɪnˈdid]) he(third-person singular pronoun, referring to the friend [hi]). With(preposition indicating accompaniment [wɪθ]) a nod(a quick downward movement of the head as a greeting or signal [ə nɑd]) he(third-person singular pronoun, referring to the friend [hi]) vanished(past tense of 'vanish', meaning to disappear suddenly [ˈvænɪʃt]) into(preposition indicating movement to or towards the inside of a place [ˈɪntu]) the bedroom(a room used for sleeping [ðə ˈbɛˌdrum]), whence(from where; from which place [wɛns]) he(third-person singular pronoun, referring to the friend [hi]) emerged(past tense of 'emerge', meaning to come out or appear [ˈimərʤd]) in(preposition indicating time [ɪn]) five minutes(a period of five minutes [faɪv ˈmɪnəts]) tweed-suited(wearing a suit made of tweed fabric [tweed-suited]) and(conjunction connecting 'tweed-suited' and 'respectable' [ənd]) respectable(regarded as socially acceptable or worthy of respect [rɪˈspɛktəbəl]), as(in the same way that; like [ɛz]) of old(as he used to be; in his former state [əv oʊld]). Putting(placing; positioning [ˈpʊtɪŋ]) his hands(the friend's hands [hɪz hænz]) into(preposition indicating movement to or towards the inside of a place [ˈɪntu]) his pockets(the pockets of his clothing [hɪz ˈpɑkəts]), he(third-person singular pronoun, referring to the friend [hi]) stretched out(extended; straightened [strɛʧt aʊt]) his legs(the friend's legs [hɪz lɛgz]) in front of(in the position directly before something [ɪn frənt əv]) the fire(a controlled burning of fuel to provide heat or light [ðə faɪər]) and(conjunction connecting 'stretched out his legs' and 'laughed heartily' [ənd]) laughed heartily(laughed in a loud and cheerful way [læft ˈhɑrtəli]) for(preposition indicating duration [fər]) some minutes(a period of several minutes [səm ˈmɪnəts]).
“Well(An expression of surprise, mild annoyance, or resignation. [wɛl]), really(Expresses disbelief, surprise, or indignation. [ˈrɪli])!” he cried(He exclaimed or shouted. 'Cried' in this context means to speak loudly or emphatically. [hi kraɪd]), and then(Indicates a sequence of events. [ənd ðɛn]) he choked(He had difficulty breathing, possibly due to emotion or laughter. [hi ʧoʊkt]) and laughed again(He continued laughing. [ənd læft əˈgɛn]) until he was obliged(To the point where he was forced or compelled. [ənˈtɪl hi wɑz əˈblaɪʤd]) to lie back(To recline or lean backwards. [tɪ laɪ bæk]), limp and helpless(Without strength or ability to assist oneself. [lɪmp ənd ˈhɛlpləs]), in the chair(Sitting in the chair. [ɪn ðə ʧɛr]).
“What is it(A question asking for clarification or explanation of something. [wət ɪz ɪt])?”
“It’s(Contraction of 'it is'. [ɪts]) quite too funny(Extremely amusing. [kwaɪt tu ˈfəni]). I am sure(I am confident. [aɪ æm ʃʊr]) you could never guess(You would not be able to figure out. [ju kʊd ˈnɛvər gɛs]) how I employed my morning(How I spent my time this morning. [haʊ aɪ ɪmˈplɔɪd maɪ ˈmɔrnɪŋ]), or what I ended by doing(Or what I ultimately did. [ər wət aɪ ˈɛndɪd baɪ duɪŋ]).”
“I can’t imagine(I am unable to guess or conceive. [aɪ kænt ˌɪˈmæʤən]). I suppose(I assume or believe. [aɪ səˈpoʊz]) that you have been watching(That you have been observing. [ðət ju hæv bɪn ˈwɑʧɪŋ]) the habits(The routines or behaviors. [ðə ˈhæbəts]), and perhaps(And possibly. [ənd pərˈhæps]) the house(The building. [ðə haʊs]), of Miss Irene Adler(Referring to Miss Irene Adler. [əv mɪs aɪˈrin ˈædlər]).”
“Quite so(Exactly; that is correct. [kwaɪt soʊ]); but the sequel(But the subsequent events or outcome. [bət ðə ˈsikwəl]) was rather unusual(Was somewhat strange or uncommon. [wɑz ˈrəðər ənˈjuˌʒuəl]). I will tell you, however(I will explain it to you, nevertheless. [aɪ wɪl tɛl ju ˌhaʊˈɛvər]). I left the house(I departed from the building. [aɪ lɛft ðə haʊs]) a little after eight o’clock(Shortly after 8:00 AM. [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈæftər eɪt əˈklɑk]) this morning(On this day, in the morning. [ðɪs ˈmɔrnɪŋ]) in the character of(Disguised as or acting as. [ɪn ðə ˈkɛrɪktər əv]) a groom(A person employed to take care of horses. [ə grum]) out of work(Unemployed. [aʊt əv wərk]). There is(Indicates existence. [ðɛr ɪz]) a wonderful sympathy(A remarkable understanding and rapport. [ə ˈwəndərfəl ˈsɪmpəθi]) and freemasonry(And a sense of brotherhood or secret understanding. [ənd ˈfriˈmeɪsənri]) among horsey men(Among men who work with or are interested in horses. [əˈməŋ ˈhɔrsi mɛn]). Be one of them(If you become one of them. [bi wən əv ðɛm]), and you will know(Then you will understand. [ənd ju wɪl noʊ]) all that there is to know(Everything that is important to know. [ɔl ðət ðɛr ɪz tɪ noʊ]). I soon found(I quickly located. [aɪ sun faʊnd]) Briony Lodge(The name of a place. [ˈbraɪəˌni lɑʤ]). It is(It is. [ɪt ɪz]) a bijou villa(A small, elegant villa. [ə bijou ˈvɪlə]), with a garden(Having a garden. [wɪθ ə ˈgɑrdən]) at the back(In the rear. [æt ðə bæk]), but built out(Extended outwards. [bət bɪlt aʊt]) in front(At the front. [ɪn frənt]) right up to the road(Directly adjacent to the road. [raɪt əp tɪ ðə roʊd]), two stories(Two floors. [tu ˈstɔriz]). Chubb lock(A type of secure lock. [ʧəb lɑk]) to the door(On the door. [tɪ ðə dɔr]). Large sitting-room(A spacious living room. [lɑrʤ sitting-room]) on the right side(Located on the right-hand side. [ɔn ðə raɪt saɪd]), well furnished(Nicely equipped with furniture. [wɛl ˈfərnɪʃt]), with long windows(Having tall windows. [wɪθ lɔŋ ˈwɪndoʊz]) almost to the floor(Extending nearly to the ground. [ˈɔlˌmoʊst tɪ ðə flɔr]), and those preposterous(And those ridiculous or absurd. [ənd ðoʊz prɪˈpɑstərəs]) English window fasteners(Mechanisms for securing windows. [ˈɪŋlɪʃ ˈwɪndoʊ ˈfæsənərz]) which a child could open(That are easily opened, even by a child. [wɪʧ ə ʧaɪld kʊd ˈoʊpən]). Behind there(At the rear of the building. [bɪˈhaɪnd ðɛr]) was nothing remarkable(Was nothing noteworthy. [wɑz ˈnəθɪŋ rɪˈmɑrkəbəl]), save that(Except that. [seɪv ðət]) the passage window(The window in the hallway. [ðə ˈpæsɪʤ ˈwɪndoʊ]) could be reached(Could be accessed. [kʊd bi riʧt]) from the top(From the upper part. [frəm ðə tɔp]) of the coach-house(A building for storing carriages. [əv ðə coach-house]). I walked round it(I circled around it. [aɪ wɔkt raʊnd ɪt]) and examined it closely(And inspected it carefully. [ənd ɪgˈzæmənd ɪt ˈkloʊsli]) from every point of view(From all angles. [frəm ˈɛvəri pɔɪnt əv vju]), but without noting(But without observing. [bət wɪˈθaʊt ˈnoʊtɪŋ]) anything else(Anything further. [ˈɛniˌθɪŋ ɛls]) of interest(That was interesting. [əv ˈɪntəˌrɛst]).
“I(The speaker, referring to himself/herself [aɪ]) then(at that time; next in order of time [ðɛn]) lounged down(moved in a relaxed or lazy way [lounged daʊn]) the street(a public road in a city or town [ðə strit]) and found, as I expected(and discovered, as anticipated [ənd faʊnd ɛz aɪ ɪkˈspɛktɪd]), that there was(indicating the existence of something [ðət ðɛr wɑz]) a mews(a street or courtyard formerly occupied by stables, often converted into dwellings or workshops [ə mews]) in a lane(located in a narrow road or path [ɪn ə leɪn]) which runs down(that extends or leads downward [wɪʧ rənz daʊn]) by one wall(alongside a single side of an enclosure [baɪ wən wɔl]) of the garden(belonging to the garden, a piece of land used for growing plants [əv ðə ˈgɑrdən]). I lent(I gave or provided [aɪ lɛnt]) the ostlers(men employed to look after horses at an inn [ðə ostlers]) a hand(assistance; help [ə hænd]) in rubbing down(in the act of drying and cleaning a horse by rubbing it with a cloth [ɪn ˈrəbɪŋ daʊn]) their horses(the horses belonging to the ostlers or kept at the inn [ðɛr ˈhɔrsɪz]), and received(and obtained or got [ənd rɪˈsivd]) in exchange(in return; as a reciprocal action [ɪn ɪksˈʧeɪnʤ]) twopence(two British pennies; a small amount of money [twopence]), a glass of half-and-half(a drink consisting of equal parts of two liquids, often beer and stout [ə glæs əv half-and-half]), two fills of(two portions or amounts of [tu fɪlz əv]) shag tobacco(a type of finely cut tobacco [ʃæg təˈbæˌkoʊ]), and as much information(and a large quantity of details or facts [ənd ɛz məʧ ˌɪnˌfɔrˈmeɪʃən]) as I could desire(that I could want or need [ɛz aɪ kʊd dɪˈzaɪər]) about Miss Adler(concerning a specific woman named Miss Adler [əˈbaʊt mɪs ˈædlər]), to say nothing of(not to mention; in addition to [tɪ seɪ ˈnəθɪŋ əv]) half a dozen(six [hæf ə ˈdəzən]) other people(additional individuals [ˈəðər ˈpipəl]) in the neighbourhood(in the surrounding area [ɪn ðə ˈneɪbərˌhʊd]) in whom I was not in the least interested(who I found completely uninteresting [ɪn hum aɪ wɑz nɑt ɪn ðə list ˈɪntəˌrɛstɪd]), but whose biographies(but the life stories of those people [bət huz baɪˈɑgrəfiz]) I was compelled(I was forced or obliged [aɪ wɑz kəmˈpɛld]) to listen to(to pay attention to what was being said [tɪ ˈlɪsən tɪ]).”