It(refers to the time or situation [ɪt]) was(past tense of 'to be', indicating a state of being in the past [wɑz]) a quarter past six(a time; fifteen minutes past six o'clock [ə kˈwɔrtər pæst sɪks]) when(at the time that [wɪn]) we(the speaker and their companions [wi]) left(past tense of 'leave', meaning to depart from [lɛft]) Baker Street(a street in London, often associated with Sherlock Holmes [ˈbeɪkər strit]), and(conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]) it(referring to the time [ɪt]) still(even now; up to this time [stɪl]) wanted(lacked; was short of [ˈwɔntɪd]) ten minutes(a period of ten minutes [tɛn ˈmɪnəts]) to the hour(before the next full hour [tɪ ðə aʊər]) when(at the time that [wɪn]) we(the speaker and their companions [wi]) found ourselves(discovered that we were [faʊnd ɑrˈsɛlvz]) in(located within [ɪn]) Serpentine Avenue(a street name [ˈsərpənˌtaɪn ˈævəˌnu]). It(referring to the situation or time of day [ɪt]) was(past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]) already(before now; previously [ɔˈrɛdi]) dusk(the time of day when the light is fading; twilight [dəsk]), and(conjunction, connecting two clauses [ənd]) the lamps(streetlights [ðə læmps]) were(past tense of 'to be', plural [wər]) just(at that moment; recently [ʤɪst]) being lighted(in the process of being turned on [biɪŋ ˈlaɪtɪd]) as(while; at the same time that [ɛz]) we(the speaker and their companions [wi]) paced(walked slowly and steadily [peɪst]) up and down(back and forth [əp ənd daʊn]) in front of(before; facing [ɪn frənt əv]) Briony Lodge(name of a house or building [ˈbraɪəˌni lɑʤ]), waiting(staying in place until something happens [ˈweɪtɪŋ]) for(expecting; anticipating [fər]) the coming of(the arrival of [ðə ˈkəmɪŋ əv]) its(belonging to Briony Lodge [ɪts]) occupant(the person who lives there [ˈɑkjəpənt]). The house(referring to Briony Lodge [ðə haʊs]) was(past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]) just(exactly; precisely [ʤɪst]) such as(like; similar to [səʧ ɛz]) I(the speaker [aɪ]) had pictured(had imagined; had visualized [hæd ˈpɪkʧərd]) it(referring to the house [ɪt]) from(based on [frəm]) Sherlock Holmes(referring to a famous fictional detective [ˈʃərˌlɑk hoʊmz])’ succinct description(a brief and clear account [səkˈsɪŋkt dɪˈskrɪpʃən]), but(conjunction, introducing a contrast [bət]) the locality(the area; the neighbourhood [ðə loʊˈkæləti]) appeared(seemed; gave the impression of being [əˈpɪrd]) to be(infinitive form of 'to be' [tɪ bi]) less private(not as secluded or isolated [lɛs ˈpraɪvət]) than(in comparison to [ðən]) I(the speaker [aɪ]) expected(had anticipated [ɪkˈspɛktɪd]). On the contrary(conversely; in opposition to what was just said [ɔn ðə ˈkɑntrɛri]), for(considering that it is [fər]) a small street(a street that is not very large [ə smɔl strit]) in(located within [ɪn]) a quiet neighbourhood(an area with little noise or activity [ə kwaɪət ˈneɪbərˌhʊd]), it(referring to the street [ɪt]) was(past tense of 'to be' [wɑz]) remarkably(surprisingly; noticeably [rɪˈmɑrkəbli]) animated(lively; full of activity [ˈænəˌmeɪtɪd]). There(used to indicate existence [ðɛr]) was(past tense of 'to be', singular [wɑz]) a group(a number of people together [ə grup]) of(belonging to; consisting of [əv]) shabbily dressed(wearing old and worn clothes [shabbily drɛst]) men(adult males [mɛn]) smoking(inhaling and exhaling smoke from a cigarette, pipe, etc. [sˈmoʊkɪŋ]) and(conjunction, connecting two actions [ənd]) laughing(making sounds of amusement [ˈlæfɪŋ]) in(located within [ɪn]) a corner(the place where two walls or lines meet [ə ˈkɔrnər]), a scissors-grinder(a person who sharpens scissors [ə scissors-grinder]) with(having; possessing [wɪθ]) his(belonging to the scissors-grinder [hɪz]) wheel(a rotating device used for sharpening [wil]), two guardsmen(two soldiers, typically in ceremonial uniform [tu ˈgɑrdzmɪn]) who(relative pronoun, referring to the guardsmen [hu]) were(past tense of 'to be', plural [wər]) flirting(behaving in a playful, romantic way [ˈflərtɪŋ]) with(interacting with in a flirtatious manner [wɪθ]) a nurse-girl(a young woman employed to look after children [ə nurse-girl]), and(conjunction, connecting two groups [ənd]) several(more than two but not many [ˈsɛvərəl]) well-dressed(wearing fashionable and expensive clothes [well-dressed]) young men(young adult males [jəŋ mɛn]) who(relative pronoun, referring to the young men [hu]) were(past tense of 'to be', plural [wər]) lounging(relaxing; standing or sitting in a lazy way [ˈlaʊnʤɪŋ]) up and down(back and forth [əp ənd daʊn]) with(holding; having [wɪθ]) cigars(rolled tobacco leaves for smoking [sɪˈgɑrz]) in(located within [ɪn]) their(belonging to the young men [ðɛr]) mouths(the opening in the face used for speaking and eating [maʊðz]).
“You see(An introductory phrase used to emphasize a point or explain something [ju si]),” remarked(said; made a comment [rɪˈmɑrkt]) Holmes(referring to Sherlock Holmes, the detective [hoʊmz]), as(while; during the time that [ɛz]) we(referring to Holmes and his companion, likely Dr. Watson [wi]) paced(walked with slow or regular movements [peɪst]) to and fro(backwards and forwards; in a repeated movement from one place to another [tɪ ənd froʊ]) in front of(before; in the area directly ahead of [ɪn frənt əv]) the house(referring to a specific house relevant to the context [ðə haʊs]), “this marriage(referring to a specific marriage being discussed [ðɪs ˈmɛrɪʤ]) rather(somewhat; to a certain extent [ˈrəðər]) simplifies(makes easier or less complicated [ˈsɪmpləˌfaɪz]) matters(the situation; the issues being dealt with [ˈmætərz]). The photograph(a specific photograph relevant to the case [ðə ˈfoʊtəˌgræf]) becomes(changes into; turns into [bɪˈkəmz]) a double-edged weapon(something that can be used both for and against someone; something with both positive and negative consequences [ə double-edged ˈwɛpən]) now(at this point in time; as a result of the marriage [naʊ]). The chances are(it is likely; it is probable [ðə ˈʧænsɪz ər]) that(used to introduce a clause expressing the content of the chances [ðət]) she(referring to a female person relevant to the case [ʃi]) would be(expressing a conditional or hypothetical situation [wʊd bi]) as averse(equally unwilling or opposed [ɛz əˈvərs]) to(expressing opposition or dislike [tɪ]) its(referring to the photograph's [ɪts]) being seen(the act of being viewed or discovered [biɪŋ sin]) by(by the agency of; through the action of [baɪ]) Mr. Godfrey Norton(a specific person relevant to the case [ˈmɪstər ˈgɑdfri ˈnɔrtən]), as(in the same way that; to the same degree that [ɛz]) our client(the person who has hired Holmes' services [ɑr klaɪənt]) is(is averse [ɪz]) to(expressing opposition or dislike [tɪ]) its(referring to the photograph's [ɪts]) coming(the act of arriving or being revealed [ˈkəmɪŋ]) to(reaching; arriving at [tɪ]) the eyes of(being seen by [ðə aɪz əv]) his princess(the princess who is associated with the client [hɪz ˈprɪnsɛs]). Now(at this point; therefore [naʊ]) the question is(the issue to be resolved is [ðə kˈwɛʃən ɪz]), Where(in what place [wɛr]) are we(referring to Holmes and his companion [ər wi]) to find(going to locate [tɪ faɪnd]) the photograph(the specific photograph being sought [ðə ˈfoʊtəˌgræf])?”
“Where, indeed(An expression of agreement and emphasis on the difficulty of the question [wɛr ˌɪnˈdid])?”
“It(referring to the photograph [ɪt]) is(is currently [ɪz]) most unlikely(very improbable; highly unlikely [moʊst ənˈlaɪkli]) that(introducing a clause stating what is unlikely [ðət]) she(referring to the woman who possesses the photograph [ʃi]) carries(has on her person; transports [ˈkɛriz]) it(referring to the photograph [ɪt]) about(on one's person; in one's possession [əˈbaʊt]) with her(accompanying her; on her person [wɪθ hər]). It(referring to the photograph [ɪt]) is(is of the size [ɪz]) cabinet size(a standard size for photographs, typically larger than a wallet photo but smaller than a full portrait [ˈkæbənət saɪz]). Too large(excessively large; larger than is convenient [tu lɑrʤ]) for(in order to be [fər]) easy concealment(simple hiding or keeping secret [ˈizi kənˈsilmənt]) about(on or around [əˈbaʊt]) a woman’s dress(the clothing worn by a woman [ə ˈwʊmənz drɛs]). She(referring to the woman who possesses the photograph [ʃi]) knows(is aware [noʊz]) that(introducing a clause stating what she knows [ðət]) the King(a specific king relevant to the case [ðə kɪŋ]) is capable(has the ability or power [ɪz ˈkeɪpəbəl]) of(expressing capability [əv]) having her waylaid(arranging for her to be stopped or intercepted unexpectedly [ˈhævɪŋ hər ˈweɪˌleɪd]) and(and also [ənd]) searched(examined thoroughly for something hidden [sərʧt]). Two attempts(two instances of trying [tu əˈtɛmpts]) of the sort(of that kind; similar attempts [əv ðə sɔrt]) have already been made(have already occurred [hæv ɔˈrɛdi bɪn meɪd]). We(referring to Holmes and his companion [wi]) may take it(can assume; can conclude [meɪ teɪk ɪt]), then(therefore; as a result [ðɛn]), that(introducing a clause stating what they can assume [ðət]) she(referring to the woman who possesses the photograph [ʃi]) does not carry(does not have on her person [dɪz nɑt ˈkɛri]) it(referring to the photograph [ɪt]) about(on her person; in her possession [əˈbaʊt]) with her(accompanying her; on her person [wɪθ hər]).”
“Where, then(An inquiry about a location, suggesting a previous discussion about a place. "Where" indicates a place, and "then" implies a logical consequence or next step in the inquiry. [wɛr ðɛn])?”
“Her banker or her lawyer(Suggests two possible individuals who might hold something of hers. [hər ˈbæŋkər ər hər ˈlɔjər]). There is that double possibility(Indicates that both the banker and the lawyer are potential options. [ðɛr ɪz ðət ˈdəbəl ˌpɑsəˈbɪləˌti]). But I am inclined to think neither(Expresses a leaning towards the belief that neither the banker nor the lawyer is the correct answer. [bət aɪ æm ˌɪnˈklaɪnd tɪ θɪŋk ˈniðər]). Women are naturally secretive(A generalization about women's inherent tendency to keep things hidden. [ˈwɪmən ər ˈnæʧərəli ˈsikrətɪv]), and they like to do their own secreting(They prefer to keep their secrets themselves. [ənd ðeɪ laɪk tɪ du ðɛr oʊn secreting]). Why should she hand it over to anyone else(A rhetorical question questioning the reason for entrusting someone else with her secrets. [waɪ ʃʊd ʃi hænd ɪt ˈoʊvər tɪ ˈɛniˌwən ɛls])? She could trust her own guardianship(She has confidence in her own ability to protect and keep something safe. [ʃi kʊd trəst hər oʊn ˈgɑrdiənʃɪp]), but she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be brought to bear upon a business man(She is uncertain about the potential subtle or political pressures that could affect a businessman's decisions. [bət ʃi kʊd nɑt tɛl wət ˌɪndərˈɛkt ər pəˈlɪtɪkəl ˈɪnfluəns maɪt bi brɔt tɪ bɛr əˈpɑn ə ˈbɪznɪs mæn]). Besides, remember that she had resolved to use it within a few days(Additionally, recall that she intended to use it soon. [ˌbiˈsaɪdz rɪˈmɛmbər ðət ʃi hæd riˈzɑlvd tɪ juz ɪt wɪˈθɪn ə fju deɪz]). It must be where she can lay her hands upon it(It needs to be easily accessible to her. [ɪt məst bi wɛr ʃi kən leɪ hər hænz əˈpɑn ɪt]). It must be in her own house(The conclusion that it is likely located in her residence." [ɪt məst bi ɪn hər oʊn haʊs]).”