A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle- page 9

“Oh, then we have three days yet,” said Holmes with a yawn.

• Oh: An exclamation, often expressing surprise, understanding, or acknowledgment [oʊ]
• then: at that time; after that [ðɛn]
• we: refers to the speaker and one or more other people considered together [wi]
• have: possess; experience [hæv]
• three days: a period of three 24-hour units [θri deɪz]
• yet: still; up to the present time [jɛt]
• said: past tense of 'say', meaning to utter words [sɛd]
• Holmes: referring to the character Sherlock Holmes [hoʊmz]
• with: accompanied by [wɪθ]
• a yawn: an involuntary act of opening the mouth wide and inhaling deeply due to tiredness or boredom [ə jɔn]

“That is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to look into just at present.

• That: referring to the previously mentioned situation [ðət]
• is: linking verb, indicating a state of being [ɪz]
• very: to a high degree; extremely [ˈvɛri]
• fortunate: lucky; having good fortune [ˈfɔrʧənət]
• as: because; since [ɛz]
• I: the speaker or writer referring to themselves [aɪ]
• have: possess; experience [hæv]
• one or two: a small number, either one or two [wən ər tu]
• matters: issues; topics of concern [ˈmætərz]
• of importance: significant; of great value or consequence [əv ˌɪmˈpɔrtəns]
• to look into: to investigate; to examine [tɪ lʊk ˈɪntu]
• just: exactly; precisely [ʤɪst]
• at present: at the current time; now [æt ˈprɛzənt]

“Certainly.

• Certainly: definitely; without a doubt [ˈsərtənli]

“Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress.”

• Then: in that case; therefore [ðɛn]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• shall: will; expressing future intention [ʃæl]
• drop you a line: write a short note to you [drɔp ju ə laɪn]
• to let you know: to inform you [tɪ lɛt ju noʊ]
• how: in what way; to what extent [haʊ]
• we: the speaker and others [wi]
• progress: make progress; advance [ˈprɑˌgrɛs]

“Pray do so.

• Pray do so: please do that [preɪ du soʊ]

“Then, as to money?”

• Then: in that case; therefore [ðɛn]
• as to: regarding; concerning [ɛz tɪ]
• money: currency; funds [ˈməni]

“You have carte blanche.”

• You: the person being addressed [ju]
• have: possess; are given [hæv]
• carte blanche: complete freedom to act as one wishes [kɑrt blænʧ]

“Absolutely?”

• Absolutely: completely; without any doubt [ˌæbsəˈlutli]

“I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom to have that photograph.”

• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• tell: inform; say [tɛl]
• you: the person being addressed [ju]
• that: introducing a clause [ðət]
• I: the speaker [aɪ]
• would give: would be willing to give [wʊd gɪv]
• one of: a single item from a group [wən əv]
• the provinces: administrative divisions of a country [ðə ˈprɑvənsəz]
• of my kingdom: belonging to my realm or territory ruled by a king or queen [əv maɪ ˈkɪŋdəm]
• to have: in order to possess [tɪ hæv]
• that photograph: the specific photograph being discussed [ðət ˈfoʊtəˌgræf]

“And for present expenses?”

• And: Conjunction used to introduce an additional point or question [ənd]
• for: Preposition indicating purpose or reason [fər]
• present: Adjective meaning current or existing now [ˈprɛzənt]
• expenses: Noun referring to the money spent or cost incurred; the question seeks to know about funds for immediate costs [ɪkˈspɛnsɪz]

The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and laid it on the table.

• The King: Refers to the monarch, the male ruler of the kingdom [ðə kɪŋ]
• took: Verb, past tense of 'take', meaning to grasp or seize [tʊk]
• a heavy: Adjective describing the weight of the bag [ə ˈhɛvi]
• chamois leather bag: A bag made of soft, pliable leather [chamois ˈlɛðər bæg]
• from: Preposition indicating the origin or source [frəm]
• under: Preposition indicating a position below something [ˈəndər]
• his cloak: A type of loose outer garment [hɪz kloʊk]
• and: Conjunction connecting two parts of the sentence [ənd]
• laid: Verb, past tense of 'lay', meaning to put or place something down [leɪd]
• it: Pronoun referring to the bag [ɪt]
• on: Preposition indicating position on a surface [ɔn]
• the table: A piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs [ðə ˈteɪbəl]

“There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in notes,” he said.

• There: Used to indicate the existence or presence of something [ðɛr]
• are: Form of the verb 'to be', indicating existence or state [ər]
• three hundred pounds: A sum of money, specifically three hundred British pounds [θri ˈhənərd paʊnz]
• in gold: Indicates that the money is in the form of gold coins [ɪn goʊld]
• and: Conjunction connecting two parts of the sentence [ənd]
• seven hundred: A sum of money, specifically seven hundred [ˈsɛvən ˈhənərd]
• in notes: Indicates that the money is in the form of banknotes [ɪn noʊts]
• he: Pronoun referring to the King [hi]
• said: Verb, past tense of 'say', meaning to utter words [sɛd]

Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and handed it to him.

• Holmes: Referring to Sherlock Holmes, the detective [hoʊmz]
• scribbled: Verb, meaning to write or draw carelessly and quickly [ˈskrɪbəld]
• a receipt: A written acknowledgment of having received something [ə rɪˈsit]
• upon: Preposition meaning on [əˈpɑn]
• a sheet: A single piece of paper [ə ʃit]
• of: Preposition indicating belonging or association [əv]
• his note-book: A book for writing notes [hɪz note-book]
• and: Conjunction connecting two parts of the sentence [ənd]
• handed: Verb, meaning to give something to someone [ˈhændɪd]
• it: Pronoun referring to the receipt [ɪt]
• to: Preposition indicating direction [tɪ]
• him: Pronoun referring to the King [ɪm]

“And Mademoiselle’s address?” he asked.

• And: Conjunction used to introduce an additional point or question [ənd]
• Mademoiselle’s: French title for an unmarried woman; possessive form [mademoiselles]
• address: The location where someone lives or can be found; the question seeks to know the location [ˈæˌdrɛs]
• he: Pronoun referring to Holmes [hi]
• asked: Verb, past tense of 'ask', meaning to put a question to someone [æst]

“Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St.

• Is: Form of the verb 'to be', indicating existence or state [ɪz]
• Briony Lodge: The name of a house or building [ˈbraɪəˌni lɑʤ]
• Serpentine Avenue: The name of a street [ˈsərpənˌtaɪn ˈævəˌnu]
• St: Abbreviation for Saint [st]

Holmes took a note of it. “One other question,” said he. “Was the photograph a cabinet?”

• Holmes: Referring to Sherlock Holmes, the detective [hoʊmz]
• took: Verb, past tense of 'take', meaning to record or write down [tʊk]
• a note: A brief record of something [ə noʊt]
• of: Preposition indicating association [əv]
• it: Pronoun referring to the address [ɪt]
• One: Adjective indicating a single item [wən]
• other: Adjective indicating an additional item [ˈəðər]
• question: An inquiry or point to be clarified [kˈwɛʃən]
• said: Verb, past tense of 'say', meaning to utter words [sɛd]
• he: Pronoun referring to Holmes [hi]
• Was: Form of the verb 'to be', used to ask a question about a past state [wɑz]
• the photograph: A picture taken with a camera [ðə ˈfoʊtəˌgræf]
• a cabinet: Refers to a specific size of photograph, popular in the late 19th century [ə ˈkæbənət]

“It was.”

• It: Pronoun referring to the photograph [ɪt]
• was: Verb, past tense of 'to be', confirming the photograph size [wɑz]

“Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon have some good news for you.

• Then: Adverb indicating a consequence or conclusion [ðɛn]
• good-night: A farewell greeting said in the evening or before going to bed [good-night]
• your Majesty: A form of address used for a king or queen [jʊr ˈmæʤəsti]
• and: Conjunction connecting two parts of the sentence [ənd]
• I: Pronoun referring to Holmes [aɪ]
• trust: Verb, meaning to believe or hope [trəst]
• that: Conjunction introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]
• we: Pronoun referring to Holmes and Watson [wi]
• shall: Auxiliary verb used to express future tense [ʃæl]
• soon: Adverb meaning in a short time [sun]
• have: Verb, meaning to possess or experience [hæv]
• some: Adjective indicating an unspecified amount or quantity [səm]
• good news: Information that is positive or favorable [gʊd nuz]
• for: Preposition indicating benefit or recipient [fər]
• you: Pronoun referring to the King [ju]

II.

At three o’clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had not yet returned.

• At three o’clock precisely: Exactly at 3:00 PM [æt θri əˈklɑk prɪˈsaɪsli]
• I was at Baker Street: The speaker was at Baker Street, a specific location (likely an address [aɪ wɑz æt ˈbeɪkər strit]
• but Holmes had not yet returned: However, Holmes had not come back yet [bət hoʊmz hæd nɑt jɛt rɪˈtərnd]

The landlady informed me that he had left the house shortly after eight o’clock in the morning.

• The landlady informed me: The owner/manager of the house told the speaker [ðə ˈlænˌdleɪdi ˌɪnˈfɔrmd mi]
• that he had left the house shortly after eight o’clock in the morning: Holmes had departed from the residence a little after 8:00 AM [ðət hi hæd lɛft ðə haʊs ˈʃɔrtli ˈæftər eɪt əˈklɑk ɪn ðə ˈmɔrnɪŋ]

I sat down beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, however long he might be.

• I sat down beside the fire: The speaker took a seat near the fireplace [aɪ sæt daʊn ˌbiˈsaɪd ðə faɪər]
• however, with the intention of awaiting him: nevertheless, with the purpose of waiting for Holmes [ˌhaʊˈɛvər wɪθ ðə ˌɪnˈtɛnʧən əv əˈweɪtɪŋ ɪm]
• however long he might be: no matter how much time it would take for Holmes to return [ˌhaʊˈɛvər lɔŋ hi maɪt bi]

I was already deeply interested in his inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own.

• I was already deeply interested in his inquiry: The speaker was very intrigued by Holmes' investigation [aɪ wɑz ɔˈrɛdi ˈdipli ˈɪntəˌrɛstɪd ɪn hɪz ˌɪnkˈwaɪˌri]
• for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which I have already recorded: because, even though this case lacked the dark and unusual aspects connected to the two previous crimes the speaker had documented [fər ðoʊ ɪt wɑz sərˈaʊndɪd baɪ nən əv ðə grɪm ənd streɪnʤ ˈfiʧərz wɪʧ wər əˈsoʊʃiˌeɪtəd wɪθ ðə tu kraɪmz wɪʧ aɪ hæv ɔˈrɛdi rɪˈkɔrdɪd]
• still, the nature of the case and the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own: yet, the specifics of the situation and the high social status of Holmes' client made this case unique [stɪl ðə ˈneɪʧər əv ðə keɪs ənd ðə ɪgˈzɔltɪd ˈsteɪʃən əv hɪz klaɪənt geɪv ɪt ə ˈkɛrɪktər əv ɪts oʊn]

Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most inextricable mysteries.

• Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my friend had on hand: In fact, besides the type of investigation Holmes was currently working on [ˌɪnˈdid əˈpɑrt frəm ðə ˈneɪʧər əv ðə ˌɪnˌvɛstəˈgeɪʃən wɪʧ maɪ frɛnd hæd ɔn hænd]
• there was something in his masterly grasp of a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning: there was something about Holmes' skillful understanding of a situation and his sharp, penetrating logic [ðɛr wɑz ˈsəmθɪŋ ɪn hɪz ˈmæstərli græsp əv ə ˌsɪʧuˈeɪʃən ənd hɪz kin ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv ˈrizənɪŋ]
• which made it a pleasure to me to study his system of work: that made it enjoyable for the speaker to observe Holmes' methods of working [wɪʧ meɪd ɪt ə ˈplɛʒər tɪ mi tɪ ˈstədi hɪz ˈsɪstəm əv wərk]
• and to follow the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most inextricable mysteries: and to understand the fast, delicate techniques Holmes used to solve the most complicated mysteries [ənd tɪ ˈfɑloʊ ðə kwɪk ˈsətəl ˈmɛθədz baɪ wɪʧ hi disentangled ðə moʊst ˌɪˈnɛkstrɪˌkəbəl ˈmɪstəriz]

So accustomed was I to his invariable success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to enter into my head.

• So accustomed was I to his invariable success: The speaker was so used to Holmes' consistent success [soʊ əˈkəstəmd wɑz aɪ tɪ hɪz ˌɪnˈvɛriəbəl səkˈsɛs]
• that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to enter into my head: that the idea of Holmes failing had stopped occurring to the speaker [ðət ðə ˈvɛri ˌpɑsəˈbɪləˌti əv hɪz ˈfeɪlɪŋ hæd sist tɪ ˈɛnər ˈɪntu maɪ hɛd]