Chapter XII

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

any thing at all

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

a container that is usually woven and has handles

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

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

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

a female confidant

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

entrusted with private information and the confidence of another

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading I put down my basket with the utmost promptitude.

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

constituting the full quantity or extent; complete

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

every person

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

a social unit living together

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

by good fortune

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

destroyed or killed

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

plural of “imagination” — the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

plural of “key” — metal device shaped in such a way that when it is inserted into the appropriate lock the lock's mechanism can be rotated

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

time available for ease and relaxation

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

the act of tarrying

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

engage in

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

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

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

the characteristic of doing things without delay

From this reading I put down my basket with the utmost promptitude.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading I put down my basket with the utmost promptitude.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading The question was solved sooner than I thought.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

explained or answered

From this reading The question was solved sooner than I thought.

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading The question was solved sooner than I thought.

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The question was solved sooner than I thought.

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

in or at that place or location

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading The question was solved sooner than I thought.

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

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading I put down my basket with the utmost promptitude.

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

From this reading The question was solved sooner than I thought.

at the time that

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

during the time that

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

which person or people

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading When everybody had left our pleasant breakfast-room but myself, and I, with my little basket of keys in my hand, was preparing to follow, Maurice, who had been lingering by the great window, startled me by asking for a few minutes’ conversation, “if I was quite at leisure.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Now, if I had the luck to hold a confidential talk with Maurice, I should have gone round the entire Harley family,” said I to myself the next morning, “and be in the secret of sundry imaginations which have not seen the light of day--but Maurice, fortunately, is not likely to make me nor any one else his _confidante_.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading I wonder if there is anything at all concerning him which it would be worth one’s while to be curious about?”