“And(Used to introduce an additional point or question [ənd]) what of(what about; concerning [wət əv]) Irene Adler(A specific person being inquired about [aɪˈrin ˈædlər])?” I asked(The speaker posed a question [aɪ æst]).
“Oh(An exclamation expressing surprise, understanding, or emphasis [oʊ]), she(Refers to a female person previously mentioned or known [ʃi]) has turned(past participle of 'turn', indicating a completed action of attracting or captivating [həz tərnd]) all the men’s heads(an idiom meaning she has attracted the attention and admiration of all the men [ɔl ðə mɛnz hɛdz]) down in that part(in that particular area or region [daʊn ɪn ðət pɑrt]). She is(She is [ʃi ɪz]) the daintiest thing(the most delicate, graceful, and charming person [ðə daintiest θɪŋ]) under a bonnet(wearing a type of hat, suggesting a traditional or old-fashioned style [ˈəndər ə ˈbɑnət]) on this planet(in the entire world [ɔn ðɪs ˈplænət]). So say(This is what people are saying [soʊ seɪ]) the Serpentine-mews(a specific location or neighborhood, likely a place where wealthy people live [ðə serpentine-mews]), to a man(unanimously; everyone agrees [tɪ ə mæn]). She lives(She resides or has her home [ʃi lɪvz]) quietly(in a peaceful and unobtrusive manner [kˈwaɪətli]), sings at concerts(performs as a singer at public musical events [sɪŋz æt ˈkɑnsərts]), drives out(goes for a drive in a carriage or car [draɪvz aʊt]) at five every day(at 5:00 PM each day [æt faɪv ˈɛvəri deɪ]), and returns(and comes back [ənd rɪˈtərnz]) at seven sharp(precisely at 7:00 PM [æt ˈsɛvən ʃɑrp]) for dinner(to have the evening meal [fər ˈdɪnər]). Seldom(rarely; not often [ˈsɛldəm]) goes out(leaves her home or residence [goʊz aʊt]) at other times(during other periods or occasions [æt ˈəðər taɪmz]), except when(unless it is when [ɪkˈsɛpt wɪn]) she sings(she performs as a singer [ʃi sɪŋz]). Has(Possesses or owns [həz]) only one male visitor(just one man who comes to visit her [ˈoʊnli wən meɪl ˈvɪzɪtər]), but a good deal of him(but he visits her frequently and spends a lot of time with her [bət ə gʊd dil əv ɪm]). He is(He is [hi ɪz]) dark, handsome, and dashing(having dark features, attractive, and stylishly bold [dɑrk ˈhænsəm ənd ˈdæʃɪŋ]), never calls less than once a day(always visits at least once each day [ˈnɛvər kɔlz lɛs ðən wəns ə deɪ]), and often twice(and frequently visits twice a day [ənd ˈɔfən twaɪs]). He is(He is [hi ɪz]) a Mr. Godfrey Norton(a man named Godfrey Norton [ə ˈmɪstər ˈgɑdfri ˈnɔrtən]), of the Inner Temple(associated with the Inner Temple, one of the Inns of Court in London for barristers [əv ðə ˈɪnər ˈtɛmpəl]). See(Understand or consider [si]) the advantages(the benefits or positive aspects [ðə ædˈvæntɪʤɪz]) of a cabman(of a taxi driver [əv ə cabman]) as a confidant(as someone to whom secrets are entrusted [ɛz ə ˈkɑnfəˌdɑnt]). They had driven(The cabmen had transported [ðeɪ hæd ˈdrɪvən]) him home(him to his residence [ɪm hoʊm]) a dozen times(twelve times [ə ˈdəzən taɪmz]) from Serpentine-mews(from the Serpentine-mews area [frəm serpentine-mews]), and knew(and were aware [ənd nu]) all about him(everything concerning him [ɔl əˈbaʊt ɪm]). When I had listened(After I had heard [wɪn aɪ hæd ˈlɪsənd]) to all they had to tell(everything they had to say [tɪ ɔl ðeɪ hæd tɪ tɛl]), I began(I started [aɪ bɪˈgæn]) to walk up and down(to pace back and forth [tɪ wɔk əp ənd daʊn]) near Briony Lodge(in the vicinity of Briony Lodge, a specific location [nɪr ˈbraɪəˌni lɑʤ]) once more(again [wəns mɔr]), and to think over(and to consider carefully [ənd tɪ θɪŋk ˈoʊvər]) my plan of campaign(my strategy or approach to achieve a goal [maɪ plæn əv kæmˈpeɪn]).
“This Godfrey Norton(Referring to a specific person named Godfrey Norton [ðɪs ˈgɑdfri ˈnɔrtən]) was evidently(clearly; obviously [wɑz ˈɛvədəntli]) an important factor(a significant element or influence [ən ˌɪmˈpɔrtənt ˈfæktər]) in the matter(regarding the situation or issue being discussed [ɪn ðə ˈmætər]). He was a lawyer(His profession was that of a lawyer [hi wɑz ə ˈlɔjər]). That sounded ominous(That seemed like a bad sign or a threat [ðət ˈsaʊndɪd ˈɑmənəs]). What was the relation(What was the connection or relationship [wət wɑz ðə riˈleɪʃən]) between them(referring to the relationship between Godfrey Norton and another person, likely the subject of the investigation [bɪtˈwin ðɛm]), and what the object(and what was the purpose or goal [ənd wət ðə ˈɑbʤɛkt]) of his repeated visits(of his frequent trips or appearances [əv hɪz rɪˈpitɪd ˈvɪzɪts])? Was she his client(Was she someone who hired him for legal services [wɑz ʃi hɪz klaɪənt]), his friend(a person he had a friendly relationship with [hɪz frɛnd]), or his mistress(a woman with whom he was having an affair [ər hɪz ˈmɪstrəs])? If the former(If she was his client [ɪf ðə ˈfɔrmər]), she had probably transferred(she had likely given or handed over [ʃi hæd ˈprɑbəˌbli ˈtrænsfərd]) the photograph(a picture being discussed or investigated [ðə ˈfoʊtəˌgræf]) to his keeping(to his possession or safekeeping [tɪ hɪz ˈkipɪŋ]). If the latter(If she was his mistress [ɪf ðə ˈlætər]), it was less likely(it was not as probable [ɪt wɑz lɛs ˈlaɪkli]). On the issue(Depending on the outcome or resolution [ɔn ðə ˈɪʃu]) of this question(of this inquiry or matter [əv ðɪs kˈwɛʃən]) depended whether(hinged on whether [dɪˈpɛndɪd ˈwɛðər]) I should continue(I ought to proceed [aɪ ʃʊd kənˈtɪnju]) my work(my investigation or task [maɪ wərk]) at Briony Lodge(a specific location where the work was being done [æt ˈbraɪəˌni lɑʤ]), or turn my attention(or shift my focus [ər tərn maɪ əˈtɛnʃən]) to the gentleman’s chambers(to the office or private rooms of the gentleman [tɪ ðə ˈʤɛnəlˌmənz ˈʧeɪmbərz]) in the Temple(a specific location, likely a legal district in London [ɪn ðə ˈtɛmpəl]). It was a delicate point(It was a sensitive or tricky issue [ɪt wɑz ə ˈdɛləkət pɔɪnt]), and it widened(and it broadened or expanded [ənd ɪt ˈwaɪdənd]) the field of my inquiry(the scope of my investigation [ðə fild əv maɪ ˌɪnkˈwaɪˌri]). I fear that(I am concerned that [aɪ fɪr ðət]) I bore you(I am making you feel uninterested or tired [aɪ bɔr ju]) with these details(with these specific pieces of information [wɪθ ðiz ˈditeɪlz]), but I have to(but it is necessary for me to [bət aɪ hæv tɪ]) let you see(allow you to understand [lɛt ju si]) my little difficulties(the small challenges I am facing [maɪ ˈlɪtəl ˈdɪfɪˌkəltiz]), if you are to understand(in order for you to comprehend [ɪf ju ər tɪ ˌəndərˈstænd]) the situation(the overall circumstances [ðə ˌsɪʧuˈeɪʃən]).”
“I(First-person singular pronoun, indicating the speaker [aɪ]) am following(Present continuous tense of the verb 'to follow', indicating an action in progress; here, it means observing or tracking someone's movements [æm ˈfɑloʊɪŋ]) you(Second-person singular or plural pronoun, referring to the person being addressed [ju]) closely(Adverb meaning 'attentively' or 'carefully'; in this context, it implies that the speaker is paying close attention to the person they are following [ˈkloʊsli]),” (Punctuation mark indicating the end of the quoted speech)I(First-person singular pronoun, indicating the speaker [aɪ]) answered(Past tense of the verb 'to answer', indicating a response to a question or statement [ˈænsərd]).
“I(First-person singular pronoun, indicating the speaker [aɪ]) was still balancing(Past continuous tense of the verb 'to balance', indicating an ongoing process of considering different aspects of a situation [wɑz stɪl ˈbælənsɪŋ]) the matter(Noun phrase referring to the issue or situation being considered [ðə ˈmætər]) in my mind(Phrase indicating that the speaker was thinking about the matter [ɪn maɪ maɪnd]) when(Conjunction introducing a subordinate clause indicating the time when something happened [wɪn]) a hansom cab(Noun phrase referring to a type of horse-drawn carriage [ə ˈhænsəm kæb]) drove up(Phrasal verb meaning 'arrived' or 'approached' in a vehicle [droʊv əp]) to Briony Lodge(Prepositional phrase indicating the destination of the cab; 'Briony Lodge' is a specific location [tɪ ˈbraɪəˌni lɑʤ]), and(Conjunction connecting two independent clauses [ ənd]) a gentleman(Noun referring to a man of good social standing [ə ˈʤɛnəlmən]) sprang out(Phrasal verb meaning 'jumped out quickly' [spræŋ aʊt]). (Punctuation mark indicating the end of the sentence)He(Third-person singular pronoun, referring to the gentleman [hi]) was(Past tense of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]) a remarkably handsome man(Noun phrase describing the gentleman's appearance; 'remarkably' means 'noticeably' or 'exceptionally' [ə rɪˈmɑrkəbli ˈhænsəm mæn]), dark, aquiline, and moustached(Adjectives describing the gentleman's physical features; 'dark' refers to his complexion or hair color, 'aquiline' refers to a slightly hooked nose, and 'moustached' means having a mustache [ dɑrk aquiline ənd moustached])—evidently(Adverb meaning 'obviously' or 'clearly' [-ˈɛvədəntli]) the man(Noun phrase referring to a specific man [ðə mæn]) of whom(Relative pronoun referring back to 'the man' [əv hum]) I had heard(Past perfect tense of the verb 'to hear', indicating that the speaker had previously received information about the man [aɪ hæd hərd]). (Punctuation mark indicating the end of the sentence)He(Third-person singular pronoun, referring to the gentleman [hi]) appeared(Past tense of the verb 'to appear', meaning 'seemed' [əˈpɪrd]) to be(Infinitive form of the verb 'to be' [tɪ bi]) in a great hurry(Phrase indicating that the gentleman was rushing or in a state of urgency [ɪn ə greɪt ˈhəri]), shouted(Past tense of the verb 'to shout', indicating a loud vocalization [ ˈʃaʊtɪd]) to the cabman(Prepositional phrase referring to the driver of the cab [tɪ ðə cabman]) to wait(Infinitive form of the verb 'to wait', indicating an instruction to remain in place [tɪ weɪt]), and(Conjunction connecting two actions [ ənd]) brushed past(Phrasal verb meaning 'moved quickly past someone, making slight contact' [brəʃt pæst]) the maid(Noun referring to a female servant [ðə meɪd]) who(Relative pronoun referring to the maid [hu]) opened(Past tense of the verb 'to open', indicating the action of opening the door [ˈoʊpənd]) the door(Noun referring to the entrance to the house [ðə dɔr]) with the air(Phrase meaning 'with the demeanor' or 'with the appearance' [wɪθ ðə ɛr]) of a man(Prepositional phrase describing the gentleman [əv ə mæn]) who was thoroughly at home(Relative clause describing the man; 'thoroughly at home' means 'completely comfortable and familiar with the surroundings' [hu wɑz ˈθəroʊli æt hoʊm]).