“It(pronoun referring to a situation or statement [ɪt]) is(third-person singular present of the verb 'to be' [ɪz]) true(in accordance with fact or reality [tru]). And(used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) yet(nevertheless; despite that [jɛt-])—! Well(used to express surprise, relief, or resignation [wɛl])! I(first-person singular pronoun [aɪ]) wish(a feeling of wanting something to be the case [wɪʃ]) she(third-person singular pronoun, referring to a female [ʃi]) had been(past perfect tense of 'to be' [hæd bɪn]) of(expressing the relationship between a part and a whole [əv]) my(first-person singular possessive pronoun [maɪ]) own(belonging to oneself [oʊn]) station(a person's rank or social position [ˈsteɪʃən])! What(used to ask for information specifying something [wət]) a(indefinite article [ə]) queen(the wife of a king [kwin]) she(third-person singular pronoun, referring to a female [ʃi]) would(auxiliary verb expressing a conditional or potential situation [wʊd]) have made(to create or produce something [hæv meɪd*])!” He(third-person singular pronoun, referring to a male [hi]) relapsed(to fall back into an old illness or bad habit [riˈlæpst]) into(expressing movement or direction into something [ˈɪntu]) a moody(given to unpredictable changes of mood, especially sudden bad temper [ə ˈmudi]) silence(complete absence of sound [ˈsaɪləns]), which(used to introduce a relative clause [wɪʧ]) was(third-person singular past of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]) not(used to negate a verb [nɑt]) broken(having been fractured or damaged [ˈbroʊkən]) until(up to the point in time or the event mentioned [ənˈtɪl]) we(first-person plural pronoun [wi]) drew up(to come to a stop [dru əp]) in(expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded [ɪn]) Serpentine Avenue(name of a street [ˈsərpənˌtaɪn ˈævəˌnu]).
The(definite article [ðə]) door(a hinged barrier used to close off an entrance [dɔr]) of(preposition indicating relationship or connection [əv]) Briony Lodge(name of a place [ˈbraɪəˌni lɑʤ]) was(third-person singular past of the verb 'to be' [wɑz]) open(not closed or locked [ˈoʊpən]), and(conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) an(indefinite article [ən]) elderly(old; aged [ˈɛldərli]) woman(an adult female human being [ˈwʊmən]) stood(past tense of 'stand', meaning to be in an upright position [stʊd]) upon(formal word for 'on' [əˈpɑn]) the(definite article [ðə]) steps(a series of levels allowing one to go from one place to another [stɛps]). She(third-person singular pronoun, referring to a female [ʃi]) watched(past tense of 'watch', meaning to look at something for a period of time [wɔʧt]) us(first-person plural object pronoun [ˈjuˈɛs]) with(expressing accompaniment or opposition [wɪθ]) a sardonic(grimly mocking or cynical [ə sɑrˈdɑnɪk]) eye(the organ of sight [aɪ]) as(used to indicate that something happens during the time that something else is taking place [ɛz]) we(first-person plural pronoun [wi]) stepped(past tense of 'step', meaning to move by lifting one's foot and setting it down in another spot [stɛpt]) from(indicating a starting point [frəm]) the(definite article [ðə]) brougham(a type of horse-drawn carriage [ˈbrugəm]).
“Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe(A formal way of addressing someone, confirming their identity. The question mark indicates uncertainty or seeking confirmation. [ˈmɪstər ˈʃərˌlɑk hoʊmz aɪ bɪˈliv])?” said she(Indicates who spoke the preceding words. [sɛd ʃi]).
“I am Mr. Holmes(Confirmation of identity. [aɪ æm ˈmɪstər hoʊmz]),” answered my companion(Indicates who is speaking, referring to the narrator's associate. [ˈænsərd maɪ kəmˈpænjən]), looking at her(Directing his gaze towards the woman. [ˈlʊkɪŋ æt hər]) with a questioning and rather startled gaze(His expression shows curiosity and surprise. [wɪθ ə kˈwɛsʧənɪŋ ənd ˈrəðər ˈstɑrtəld geɪz]).
“Indeed(An expression of surprise or acknowledgement. [ˌɪnˈdid])! My mistress(Referring to the speaker's employer, a woman of high social standing. [maɪ ˈmɪstrəs]) told me(Informing that she was told something. [toʊld mi]) that you were likely to call(That it was anticipated that the person being spoken to would visit. [ðət ju wər ˈlaɪkli tɪ kɔl]). She left(She departed. [ʃi lɛft]) this morning(The current morning. [ðɪs ˈmɔrnɪŋ]) with her husband(Accompanied by her spouse. [wɪθ hər ˈhəzbənd]) by the 5:15 train(Traveling on the train that departs at 5:15. [baɪ ðə 515 treɪn]) from Charing Cross(Departing from Charing Cross station. [frəm charing krɔs]) for the Continent(Heading to mainland Europe. [fər ðə ˈkɑntənənt]).”
“What(An exclamation of surprise or disbelief. [wət])!” Sherlock Holmes(The name of the detective. [ˈʃərˌlɑk hoʊmz]) staggered back(Moved backward unsteadily, indicating shock. [ˈstægərd bæk]), white with chagrin(Pale due to feeling of disappointment and humiliation. [waɪt wɪθ ʃəˈgrɪn]) and surprise(And astonishment. [ənd səˈpraɪz]). “Do you mean(Are you implying. [du ju min]) that she has left England(That she has departed from England. [ðət ʃi həz lɛft ˈɪŋglənd])?”
“Never to return(Indicating a permanent departure. [ˈnɛvər tɪ rɪˈtərn]).”
“And the papers(Inquiring about the documents. [ənd ðə ˈpeɪpərz])?” asked the King(The speaker is the King. [æst ðə kɪŋ]) hoarsely(Speaking with a rough or strained voice, possibly due to emotion. [hoarsely]). “All is lost(Everything is gone or irrecoverable. [ɔl ɪz lɔst]).”
“We shall see(Expressing determination to investigate or find out. [wi ʃæl si]).” He(Referring to Sherlock Holmes. [hi]) pushed past the servant(Moved quickly past the servant. [pʊʃt pæst ðə ˈsərvənt]) and rushed(Moved quickly and forcefully. [ənd rəʃt]) into the drawing-room(Entered the drawing-room. [ˈɪntu ðə drawing-room]), followed by the King(With the King behind him. [ˈfɑloʊd baɪ ðə kɪŋ]) and myself(And the narrator. [ənd ˌmaɪˈsɛlf]). The furniture(The movable objects in the room. [ðə ˈfərnɪʧər]) was scattered about(Spread around in a disorganized manner. [wɑz ˈskætərd əˈbaʊt]) in every direction(In all parts of the room. [ɪn ˈɛvəri dɪˈrɛkʃɪn]), with dismantled shelves(Shelves that have been emptied or taken apart. [wɪθ dɪsˈmænəld ʃɛlvz]) and open drawers(Drawers that are not closed. [ənd ˈoʊpən drɔrz]), as if the lady(Suggesting that the woman. [ɛz ɪf ðə ˈleɪdi]) had hurriedly ransacked them(Had quickly and thoroughly searched through them, often in a messy way. [hæd ˈhəridli ˈrænˌsækt ðɛm]) before her flight(Before she left. [ˌbiˈfɔr hər flaɪt]). Holmes rushed(Holmes moved quickly. [hoʊmz rəʃt]) at the bell-pull(Towards the cord used to ring for service. [æt ðə bell-pull]), tore back(Pulled back forcefully. [tɔr bæk]) a small sliding shutter(A small panel that slides to open or close. [ə smɔl sˈlaɪdɪŋ ˈʃətər]), and, plunging in his hand(And quickly inserting his hand. [ənd ˈplənʤɪŋ ɪn hɪz hænd]), pulled out(Extracted. [pʊld aʊt]) a photograph(A picture. [ə ˈfoʊtəˌgræf]) and a letter(And a written message. [ənd ə ˈlɛtər]). The photograph(The picture. [ðə ˈfoʊtəˌgræf]) was of Irene Adler(Showed Irene Adler. [wɑz əv aɪˈrin ˈædlər]) herself(The woman herself. [hərˈsɛlf]) in evening dress(Wearing formal attire. [ɪn ˈivnɪŋ drɛs]), the letter(The written message. [ðə ˈlɛtər]) was superscribed(Had an address written on it. [wɑz superscribed]) to “Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for(To be held until someone asks for it. [tɪ bi lɛft tɪl kɔld fər]).” My friend(Referring to Sherlock Holmes. [maɪ frɛnd]) tore it open(Opened it quickly and forcefully. [tɔr ɪt ˈoʊpən]), and we all three(The narrator, Sherlock Holmes, and the King. [ənd wi ɔl θri]) read it together(Read it at the same time. [rɛd ɪt təˈgɛðər]). It was dated(The date written on it was. [ɪt wɑz ˈdeɪtɪd]) at midnight(Twelve o'clock at night. [æt ˈmɪdˌnaɪt]) of the preceding night(The night before. [əv ðə priˈsidɪŋ naɪt]) and ran in this way(And the content was as follows. [ənd ræn ɪn ðɪs weɪ]):
“MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES(A formal and polite opening salutation, indicating respect and perhaps a degree of familiarity [maɪ dɪr ˈmɪstər ˈʃərˌlɑk hoʊmz-]),—You really did it very well(An expression of admiration for someone's successful deception or performance [ju ˈrɪli dɪd ɪt ˈvɛri wɛl]). You took me in completely(Meaning you deceived me entirely; I was completely fooled [ju tʊk mi ɪn kəmˈplitli]). Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a suspicion(Indicates that the speaker had no doubts or inklings until a specific event occurred [ənˈtɪl ˈæftər ðə əˈlɑrm əv faɪər aɪ hæd nɑt ə səˈspɪʃən]). But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I began to think(The speaker realized they had inadvertently revealed something important and started to analyze the situation [bət ðɛn wɪn aɪ faʊnd haʊ aɪ hæd bɪˈtreɪd ˌmaɪˈsɛlf aɪ bɪˈgæn tɪ θɪŋk]). I had been warned against you months ago(Someone had cautioned the speaker about the person being addressed some time in the past [aɪ hæd bɪn wɔrnd əˈgɛnst ju mənθs əˈgoʊ]). I had been told that, if the King employed an agent, it would certainly be you(The speaker was informed that if the King were to hire someone, it would undoubtedly be the person being addressed [aɪ hæd bɪn toʊld ðət ɪf ðə kɪŋ ɪmˈplɔɪd ən ˈeɪʤənt ɪt wʊd ˈsərtənli bi ju]). And your address had been given me(The speaker had received the address of the person being addressed [ənd jʊr ˈæˌdrɛs hæd bɪn ˈgɪvɪn mi]). Yet, with all this, you made me reveal what you wanted to know(Despite all the warnings and information, the person being addressed still managed to extract the desired information [jɛt wɪθ ɔl ðɪs ju meɪd mi rɪˈvil wət ju ˈwɔntɪd tɪ noʊ]). Even after I became suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind old clergyman(Even when the speaker started to suspect something, they struggled to believe that such a seemingly good-natured person could be deceitful [ˈivɪn ˈæftər aɪ bɪˈkeɪm səˈspɪʃəs aɪ faʊnd ɪt hɑrd tɪ θɪŋk ˈivəl əv səʧ ə dɪr kaɪnd oʊld ˈklərʤiˌmæn]). But, you know, I have been trained as an actress myself(The speaker reveals their background as a trained actress [bət ju noʊ aɪ hæv bɪn treɪnd ɛz ən ˈæktrəs ˌmaɪˈsɛlf]). Male costume is nothing new to me(Dressing in male attire is not a novel experience for the speaker [meɪl ˈkɑstum ɪz ˈnəθɪŋ nu tɪ mi]). I often take advantage of the freedom which it gives(The speaker frequently uses the opportunities afforded by dressing as a man [aɪ ˈɔfən teɪk ædˈvæntɪʤ əv ðə ˈfridəm wɪʧ ɪt gɪvz]). I sent John, the coachman, to watch you, ran upstairs, got into my walking clothes, as I call them, and came down just as you departed(The speaker describes a series of actions taken to observe the person being addressed, including sending someone to watch, changing clothes, and leaving the premises [aɪ sɛnt ʤɑn ðə ˈkoʊʧmən tɪ wɔʧ ju ræn əpˈstɛrz gɑt ˈɪntu maɪ ˈwɔkɪŋ kloʊðz ɛz aɪ kɔl ðɛm ənd keɪm daʊn ʤɪst ɛz ju dɪˈpɑrtɪd]).