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A Secret Service
A Secret Service

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of A Secret Service is here in full — 256 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 5 of A Secret Service by William Le Queux holds 256 sentences, grouped into 52 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 5 of A Secret Service contain?

Chapter 5 holds 256 sentences of A Secret Service, unabridged, divided into 52 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of A Secret Service by William Le Queux exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 256 sentences, grouped into 52 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 5 of A Secret Service?

Work through the 52 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 52 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Secret Service

Common questions about reading A Secret Service by William Le Queux on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Secret Service?

Yes. All 4061 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #67278 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Secret Service is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #67278, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Secret Service take to read?

About 338 minutes of reading across 813 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Secret Service section by section

How to work through A Secret Service section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 15 chapters of A Secret Service to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Secret Service

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Secret Service, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

William
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Secret Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Queux
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Secret Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Secret Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Zoraida
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Secret Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for A Secret Service
Context Illustration Reading 1/52 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SOPHIE ZAGAROVNA’S SECRET.
On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.
Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.
The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.
I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Secret Service

Chapter V

Chapter 5 of A Secret Service is here in full — 256 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SOPHIE ZAGAROVNA’S SECRET.
Line 2
On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.
Line 3
Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.
Line 4
The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.
Line 5
I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.”

Although conjunction US /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.”

SECRET noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “SOPHIE ZAGAROVNA’S SECRET.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.”

All words in this reading · 81

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

acting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

althoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

arm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

arrived

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

askance

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

cab

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

compatriots

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

conclusion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

contents

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

copies

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

detective

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

dirty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

Drury

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

engaged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

England

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

entrance

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

eyed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

Gaiety

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

hand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

hour

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

Ill-clad

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

kerb

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

Lane

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

little

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

lounged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

new

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

newspapers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

opposite

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

papers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

part

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

Party

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

past

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

performance

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

rabble

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

ragged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

recently

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

regarded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading SOPHIE ZAGAROVNA’S SECRET.

selling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

shouted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

slums

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

sold

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

SOPHIE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading SOPHIE ZAGAROVNA’S SECRET.

Strand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

suspecting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

suspicion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The dirty ragged rabble from the slums off Drury Lane eyed me with askance as a new hand, little suspecting that I was acting the part of detective.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

Theatre

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

touts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

unwashed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

waiting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

watching

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

wet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I was engaged in watching one of my compatriots who had recently arrived in England, and whom the Party regarded with suspicion.

winter's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the kerb in the Strand, opposite the entrance to the Gaiety Theatre, I was, one wet winter’s night, selling newspapers.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Ill-clad and unwashed, I lounged about with the cab touts who were waiting for the conclusion of the performance, and although for the past hour I had shouted the contents of the papers under my arm, I had only sold three copies.

ZAGAROVNA'S

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading SOPHIE ZAGAROVNA’S SECRET.