A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle- page 11

“And what of Irene Adler?” I asked.

• 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, she has turned all the men’s heads down in that part.

• 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 the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet.

• 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 the Serpentine-mews, to a man.

• 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 quietly, sings at concerts, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for dinner.

• 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 goes out at other times, except when she sings.

• 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 only one male visitor, but a good deal of him.

• 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 dark, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and often twice.

• 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 a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple.

• 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 the advantages of a cabman as a confidant.

• 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 him home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him.

• 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 to all they had to tell, I began to walk up and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan of campaign.

• 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 was evidently an important factor in the matter.

• 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.

• He was a lawyer: His profession was that of a lawyer [hi wɑz ə ˈlɔjər]

That sounded ominous.

• That sounded ominous: That seemed like a bad sign or a threat [ðət ˈsaʊndɪd ˈɑmənəs]

What was the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated visits?

• 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, his friend, or his mistress?

• 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, she had probably transferred the photograph to his keeping.

• 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, it was less likely.

• 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 of this question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman’s chambers in the Temple.

• 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, and it widened the field of my inquiry.

• 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 am following you closely,” I answered.

• 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]
• 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 was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out.

• 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]

He was a remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached—evidently the man of whom I had heard.

• 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]

He appeared to be in a great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly at home.

• 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]