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Miss Mephistopheles
Miss Mephistopheles

Chapter XXIX · Light at Last

Chapter XXIX of Miss Mephistopheles, “Light at Last,” is here in full — 152 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/30 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.
But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.
Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.
The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.
"You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Miss Mephistopheles

Chapter XXIX · Light at Last

Chapter XXIX of Miss Mephistopheles, “Light at Last,” is here in full — 152 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.
Line 2
But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.
/bʌt ðen koʊˈɪnsədənsɪz duː ˈhæpən ɪn riːl laɪf æz wel æz ɪn ˈnɑːvəlz ənd hæd ˈkɪti ˈkerfəli kənˈstrʌktəd ðə hoʊl siːn wɪð æn aɪ tuː drəˈmætɪk ɪˈfekt ɪt kʊd ˈhɑːrdli hæv tɜːrnd aʊt ˈbetər/
Line 3
Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.
Line 4
The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.
Line 5
"You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."
/juː wɜːr kwɪk ɪˈnʌf ɪn əˈkjuːzɪŋ ˈʌðər ˈpiːpəl ʃiː sed ˈæŋɡrəli ˌmaɪˈself əˈmʌŋ ðə ˈnʌmbər ənd naʊ wen aɪ ʃoʊ juː pleɪn pruːf juː dɪsbəˈliːv/

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.

accuse verb US /əˈkjuːz/

bring an accusation against; level a charge against

From this reading “It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.”

accusing adjective US /əˈkjuːzɪŋ/

containing or expressing accusation

From this reading “"You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."”

actress noun US /ˈæktrəs/

a female actor

From this reading “Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.”

American's noun US /əˈmerɪkənz/

possessive form of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading “The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.”

coincidences noun US /koʊˈɪnsədənsɪz/

plural of “coincidence” — an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental

From this reading “But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.”

constructed verb US /kənˈstrʌktəd/

past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading “But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.”

disbelieve verb US /dɪsbəˈliːv/

reject as false; refuse to accept

From this reading “"You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."”

keenest adjective US /ˈkiːnəst/

superlative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading “The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.”

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.

dramatic effect adjective + noun

In this reading “But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.”

keenest interest adjective + noun counted as “keen interest”

In this reading “The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.”

whole scene adjective + noun

In this reading “But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.”

other people adjective + noun

In this reading “"You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."”

quick enough adjective + noun

In this reading “"You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."”

real life adjective + noun

the practical world as opposed to the academic world

In this reading “But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.”

remarkable thing adjective + noun

In this reading “It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.”

on the eve preposition + article + noun counted as “on … eve”

In this reading “It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.”

All words in this reading · 112

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

accuseverbUS /əˈkjuːz/

bring an accusation against; level a charge against

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

accusingadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːzɪŋ/

containing or expressing accusation

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

actressnounUS /ˈæktrəs/

a female actor

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

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 The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

American'snounUS /əˈmerɪkənz/

possessive form of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

angrilyadverbUS /ˈæŋɡrəli/

with anger

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

arrestverbUS /ərˈest/

take into custody

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

arrivalnounUS /ərˈaɪvəl/

accomplishment of an objective

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

carefullyadverbUS /ˈkerfəli/

taking care or paying attention

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

coincidencesnounUS /koʊˈɪnsədənsɪz/

plural of “coincidence” — an event that might have been arranged although it was really accidental

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

constructedverbUS /kənˈstrʌktəd/

past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/

a police officer who investigates crimes

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

disbelieveverbUS /dɪsbəˈliːv/

reject as false; refuse to accept

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

disgustverbUS /dɪsˈɡʌst/

fill with distaste

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

doubtfuladjectiveUS /ˈdaʊtfəl/

open to doubt or suspicion

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/

suitable to or characteristic of drama

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

drawing-room

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

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

effectnounUS /ɪˈfekt/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

effectuallyadverb

in an effectual manner

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

Eugénie

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

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

evenounUS /iːv/

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

Fenton

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/

the state of having committed an offense

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

happenverbUS /ˈhæpən/

come to pass

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/

only a very short time before

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/

the activity of keeping something secret

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

keenestadjectiveUS /ˈkiːnəst/

superlative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

KittynounUS /ˈkɪti/

the combined stakes of the betters

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

Kitty's

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

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

Malton

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

Naball

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

nickverbUS /nɪk/

cut slightly, with a razor

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

novelsnounUS /ˈnɑːvəlz/

plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

numbernounUS /ˈnʌmbər/

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

plainadjectiveUS /pleɪn/

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

preparedadjectiveUS /priˈperd/

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

proofnounUS /pruːf/

any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

quickadjectiveUS /kwɪk/

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

realadjectiveUS /riːl/

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

remarkableadjectiveUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbəl/

unusual or striking

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

scenenounUS /siːn/

the place where some action occurs

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The detective had listened to all with the keenest interest, but, much to Kitty's disgust, seemed doubtful of the American's guilt.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

Toorak

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

trapnounUS /træp/

a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading Eugénie sat with the actress in the drawing-room, waiting for the arrival of Fenton, and talking to Naball, who was seated near them.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It was certainly a remarkable thing that when Kitty had prepared her trap for Fenton just on the eve of his going away, by having Naball in hiding to arrest him, that Malton, the only man who could effectually accuse the American, should also have come down to Toorak in the nick of time.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But, then, coincidences do happen in real life as well as in novels; and had Kitty carefully constructed the whole scene with an eye to dramatic effect, it could hardly have turned out better.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You were quick enough in accusing other people," she said angrily, "myself among the number, and now, when I show you plain proof, you disbelieve."

Chapter 29 of Miss Mephistopheles by Fergus Hume holds 152 sentences, grouped into 31 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 29 of Miss Mephistopheles contain?

Chapter 29 holds 152 sentences of Miss Mephistopheles, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 29 of Miss Mephistopheles by Fergus Hume exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 152 sentences, grouped into 31 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 29 of Miss Mephistopheles?

Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 31 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 29 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 29 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 Miss Mephistopheles

Common questions about reading Miss Mephistopheles by Fergus Hume on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Miss Mephistopheles?

Yes. All 3851 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #55378 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Miss Mephistopheles is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #55378, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Miss Mephistopheles take to read?

About 320 minutes of reading across 771 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Miss Mephistopheles section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of Miss Mephistopheles 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 Miss Mephistopheles

Words and structures a reader meets early in Miss Mephistopheles, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Mephistopheles
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Miss Mephistopheles; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Novel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Miss Mephistopheles; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sequel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Miss Mephistopheles; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Madame
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Miss Mephistopheles; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.