A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle- page 8

“Precisely so.

• Precisely so: Exactly; that is correct

“Was there a secret marriage?”

• Was: past tense of 'be', used to form a question [wɑz]
• there: used to indicate the existence of something [ðɛr]
• a secret marriage: a marriage that was kept hidden from the public

“None.”

• None: not any; not one

“No legal papers or certificates?”

• No: not any
• legal papers: official documents recognized by law
• or: used to introduce an alternative [ər]
• certificates: official documents attesting to a fact

“None.”

• None: not any; not one

“Then I fail to follow your Majesty.

• Then: as a result or consequence [ðɛn]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• fail: be unsuccessful; not achieve [feɪl]
• to: used to indicate purpose or intention [tɪ]
• follow: understand [ˈfɑloʊ]
• your Majesty: a formal address to a king, queen, or emperor [jʊr ˈmæʤəsti]

“There is the writing.”

• There is: Indicates the presence or existence of something, in this case, 'the writing' [ðɛr ɪz]
• the writing: Refers to a written document or text. [ðə ˈraɪtɪŋ)]

“Pooh, pooh!

• Pooh, pooh: An expression of dismissal or contempt. [pu pu]

“My private note-paper])).”

• My private: Belonging to me and intended for my personal use only [maɪ ˈpraɪvət]
• note-paper: Paper used for writing notes or letters. [note-paper-

“Stolen.”

• Stolen: Taken dishonestly; acquired by theft. [ˈstoʊlən)]

“My own seal.”

• My own: Belonging to me personally; not someone else's [maɪ oʊn]
• seal: A device with a unique design used to authenticate documents or close containers. [sil)]

“Imitated.”

• Imitated: Copied or simulated. [ˈɪməˌteɪtɪd)]

“My photograph.”

• My photograph: A picture taken using a camera. [maɪ ˈfoʊtəˌgræf)]

“Bought.”

• Bought: Acquired by paying for it. [bɔt)]

“We were both in the photograph.”

• We were: Indicates that the speaker and at least one other person were involved [wi wər]
• both: Refers to two people or things [boʊθ]
• in the photograph: Located within the image captured by the camera. [ɪn ðə ˈfoʊtəˌgræf)]

“Oh, dear!

• Oh, dear: An expression of dismay or concern. [oʊ dɪr]

That is very bad!

• That is: Refers to a specific situation or action [ðət ɪz]
• very bad: Extremely unfavorable or undesirable. [ˈvɛri bæd]

“I was mad—insane])).”

• I was: Refers to the speaker's past state [aɪ wɑz]
• mad—insane: Mentally disturbed; not of sound mind. [mad-insane-

“You have compromised yourself seriously.”

• You have: Indicates that the person being addressed has done something [ju hæv]
• compromised: Placed in a situation where one's reputation or integrity is at risk [ˈkɑmprəˌmaɪzd]
• yourself: Refers to the person being addressed [ˈjɔrsɛlf]
• seriously: To a great extent; gravely. [ˈsɪriəsli)]

“I was only Crown Prince then.

• I was: Refers to the speaker's past state [aɪ wɑz]
• only: Merely; just [ˈoʊnli]
• Crown Prince: The heir apparent to the throne [kraʊn prɪns]
• then: At that time in the past. [ðɛn]

I was young.

• I was: Refers to the speaker's past state [aɪ wɑz]
• young: In an early stage of life. [jəŋ]

“It must be recovered.”

• It must: Refers to something that is necessary or required [ɪt məst]
• be recovered: Retrieved or regained. [bi rɪˈkəvərd)]

“We have tried and failed.”

• We have: Indicates that a group of people, including the speaker, has done something [wi hæv]
• tried: Made an attempt or effort [traɪd]
• and failed: Been unsuccessful. [ənd feɪld)]

“Your Majesty must pay.

• Your Majesty: A title used to address a king, queen, emperor, or empress. [jʊr ˈmæʤəsti]
• must pay: Is obligated to provide money. [məst peɪ]

“She will not sell.”

• She will: Refers to a female person and her future action [ʃi wɪl]
• not sell: Refuse to exchange something for money. [nɑt sɛl)]

“Stolen, then.”

• Stolen, then: Taken dishonestly; acquired by theft. Indicates a decision to steal if buying is not possible. [ˈstoʊlən ðɛn)]

“Five attempts have been made.

• Five attempts have been made: Indicates that there have been five tries or efforts to achieve something. [faɪv əˈtɛmpts hæv bɪn meɪd]

Twice burglars in my pay ransacked her house.

• Twice: Means two times. [twaɪs]
• burglars in my pay: Burglars who are being paid by the speaker. [ˈbərglərz ɪn maɪ peɪ]
• ransacked: Searched thoroughly in a destructive and often illegal manner. [ˈrænˌsækt]
• her house: The house belonging to a female person previously mentioned. [hər haʊs]

Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled.

• Once: Means one time. [wəns]
• we diverted: We changed the direction or course of something. [wi dɪˈvərtɪd]
• her luggage: The bags and suitcases containing a traveler's belongings. [hər ˈləgɪʤ]
• when she travelled: At the time she was traveling. [wɪn ʃi ˈtrævəld]

Twice she has been waylaid.

• Twice: Means two times. [twaɪs]
• she has been waylaid: She has been stopped or intercepted, often unexpectedly and sometimes with malicious intent. [ʃi həz bɪn ˈweɪˌleɪd]

“No sign of it?”

• No sign of it: A question asking if there is any indication or evidence of something. [noʊ saɪn əv ɪt]

“Absolutely none.”

• Absolutely none: Indicates that there is no sign or evidence at all. [ˌæbsəˈlutli nən]

Holmes laughed. “It is quite a pretty little problem,” said he.

• Holmes laughed: Holmes, presumably a character, expressed amusement by laughing. [hoʊmz læft]
• It is quite a pretty little problem: The speaker finds the problem interesting or appealing in a minor way. [ɪt ɪz kwaɪt ə ˈprɪti ˈlɪtəl ˈprɑbləm]
• said he: He, referring to Holmes, said something. [sɛd hi]

“But a very serious one to me,” returned the King reproachfully.

• But a very serious one to me: The speaker emphasizes that the problem is significant and concerning to them personally. [bət ə ˈvɛri ˈsɪriəs wən tɪ mi]
• returned the King reproachfully: The King replied in a manner expressing disapproval or blame. [rɪˈtərnd ðə kɪŋ reproachfully]

“Very, indeed.

• Very, indeed: An emphatic agreement or confirmation. [ˈvɛri ˌɪnˈdid]

“To ruin me.”

• To ruin me: The intention is to cause the speaker's downfall or destruction. [tɪ ruɪn mi]

“But how?”

• But how: Asking for the method or means by which the speaker will be ruined. [bət haʊ]

“I am about to be married.”

• I am about to be married: The speaker is planning to get married in the near future. [aɪ æm əˈbaʊt tɪ bi ˈmɛrid]

“So I have heard.”

• So I have heard: The speaker indicates that they are already aware of the upcoming marriage. [soʊ aɪ hæv hərd]

“To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the King of Scandinavia.

• To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the King of Scandinavia: Identifying the person the speaker is marrying, including her full name, title, and parentage. [tɪ clotilde lothman vɔn saxe-meningen ˈsɛkənd ˈdɔtər əv ðə kɪŋ əv ˌskændɪˈneɪviə]

You may know the strict principles of her family.

• You may know the strict principles of her family: Suggesting that the listener is aware of the high moral standards of the bride's family. [ju meɪ noʊ ðə strɪkt ˈprɪnsəpəlz əv hər ˈfæməli]

She is herself the very soul of delicacy.

• She is herself the very soul of delicacy: Emphasizing the bride's refined and sensitive nature. [ʃi ɪz hərˈsɛlf ðə ˈvɛri soʊl əv ˈdɛlɪkəsi]

“And Irene Adler?”

• And Irene Adler: A question indicating the speaker is bringing up the topic of Irene Adler. [ənd aɪˈrin ˈædlər]

“Threatens to send them the photograph.

• Threatens: States that someone is making a declaration of an intent to punish or harm someone for action done or not done. [θˈrɛtənz]
• to send: to dispatch something to a destination [tɪ sɛnd]
• them: refers to a group of people previously mentioned or understood in the context [ðɛm]
• the photograph: a picture or image recorded by a camera [ðə ˈfoʊtəˌgræf]

And she will do it.

• And she will do it: Confirmation that she will carry out the threat [ənd ʃi wɪl du ɪt]

I know that she will do it.

• I know: Expresses certainty or understanding [aɪ noʊ]
• that she will do it: reiterates the certainty of her action [ðət ʃi wɪl du ɪt]

You do not know her, but she has a soul of steel.

• You do not know her: Indicates the listener is unfamiliar with the person being discussed [ju du nɑt noʊ hər]
• but she has a soul of steel: metaphorically describes her as having a strong, unyielding, and determined character [bət ʃi həz ə soʊl əv stil]

She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mind of the most resolute of men.

• She has the face of the most beautiful of women: Describes her physical appearance as exceptionally attractive [ʃi həz ðə feɪs əv ðə moʊst ˈbjutəfəl əv ˈwɪmən]
• and the mind of the most resolute of men: Indicates she possesses a strong, determined, and unwavering intellect [ənd ðə maɪnd əv ðə moʊst ˈrɛzəˌlut əv mɛn]

“You are sure that she has not sent it yet?”

• You are sure: Asking for confirmation about something [ju ər ʃʊr]
• that she has not sent it yet: Questioning whether she has already sent the photograph. [ðət ʃi həz nɑt sɛnt ɪt jɛt]

“I am sure.”

• I am sure: Confirms the speaker's certainty about something. [aɪ æm ʃʊr]

“And why?”

• And why: Asks for the reason behind a statement or situation. [ənd waɪ]

“Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the betrothal was publicly proclaimed.

• Because: Introducing the reason or explanation for something [bɪˈkəz]
• she has said: States that she communicated something verbally [ʃi həz sɛd]
• that she would send it: She declared her intention to send the photograph [ðət ʃi wʊd sɛnd ɪt]
• on the day: Specifies a particular day [ɔn ðə deɪ]
• when the betrothal was publicly proclaimed: The day the engagement is officially announced [wɪn ðə betrothal wɑz ˈpəblɪkli proʊˈkleɪmd]