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Lost Illusions
Lost Illusions

Chapter XIV

Chapter 14 of Lost Illusions is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Lost Illusions
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.
"Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.
We are all friends of Nathan's, and we are attacking him.
Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"
"If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Lost Illusions

Chapter XIV

Chapter 14 of Lost Illusions is here in full — 413 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.
/soʊ hiː ɪz wʌn ʌv ʌs sed wʌn ʌv ðə tuː ˈdʒɜːrnələsts/
Line 2
"Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.
Line 3
We are all friends of Nathan's, and we are attacking him.
Line 4
Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"
Line 5
"If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.

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, and audio.

addressed adjective US /əˈdrest/

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading “"If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.”

Alexander's noun US /ˌæləɡˈzændərz/

possessive form of “alexander” — European herb somewhat resembling celery widely naturalized in Britain coastal regions and often cultivated as a potherb

From this reading “Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"”

attacking adjective US /əˈtækɪŋ/

disposed to attack

From this reading “We are all friends of Nathan's, and we are attacking him.”

divide verb US /dɪˈvaɪd/

separate into parts or portions

From this reading “Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"”

empire noun US /ˈempaɪər/

the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised

From this reading “Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"”

journalists noun US /ˈdʒɜːrnələsts/

plural of “journalist” — a writer for newspapers and magazines

From this reading “"So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.”

tricks noun US /trɪks/

plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device

From this reading “"Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.”

willing adjective US /ˈwɪlɪŋ/

disposed or inclined toward

From this reading “"If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

stand by verb + particle

not act or do anything

In this reading “"Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.”

All words in this reading · 51

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

addressedadjectiveUS /əˈdrest/

(of mail) marked with a destination

From this reading "If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.

Alexander'snounUS /ˌæləɡˈzændərz/

possessive form of “alexander” — European herb somewhat resembling celery widely naturalized in Britain coastal regions and often cultivated as a potherb

From this reading Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(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 "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We are all friends of Nathan's, and we are attacking him.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.

attackingadjectiveUS /əˈtækɪŋ/

disposed to attack

From this reading We are all friends of Nathan's, and we are attacking him.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

divideverbUS /dɪˈvaɪd/

separate into parts or portions

From this reading Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"

empirenounUS /ˈempaɪər/

the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised

From this reading Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

Francais

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

From this reading Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"

Frederic

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

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

friendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading We are all friends of Nathan's, and we are attacking him.

gentlemennounUS /ˈdʒentəlmɪn/

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading "If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading We are all friends of Nathan's, and we are attacking him.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

journalistsnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrnələsts/

plural of “journalist” — a writer for newspapers and magazines

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"

Lucien

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

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

Nathan's

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

From this reading We are all friends of Nathan's, and we are attacking him.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"

Odeon

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

From this reading Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading "If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading "If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading "If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.

tricksnounUS /trɪks/

plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "So he is one of us?" said one of the two journalists.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Now, let us divide Alexander's empire.--Frederic, will you take the Francais and the Odeon?"

willingadjectiveUS /ˈwɪlɪŋ/

disposed or inclined toward

From this reading "If these gentlemen are willing," returned the person addressed as Frederic.

workingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Yes, yes, Frederic; no tricks.--We are all working for you, Lucien, you see; you must stand by us when your turn comes.

Chapter 14 of Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac holds 413 sentences, grouped into 83 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 14 of Lost Illusions contain?

Chapter 14 holds 413 sentences of Lost Illusions, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 413 sentences, grouped into 83 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 14 of Lost Illusions?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Lost Illusions

Common questions about reading Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Lost Illusions?

Yes. All 11797 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #13159 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Lost Illusions is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #13159, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Lost Illusions take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2360 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Lost Illusions section by section

How to work through Lost Illusions section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of Lost Illusions 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 Lost Illusions

Words and structures a reader meets early in Lost Illusions, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Trilogy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lost Illusions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Known
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lost Illusions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illusions
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lost Illusions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Consists
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lost Illusions; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.