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Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life

Chapter XXXIII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”
“Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.
“Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”
“Do what he bids you!” said Fil-de Soie.
“You don’t say so?” retorted la Pouraille, looking at his pal.
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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.

Scenes from a Courtesan's Life

Chapter XXXIII

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”
Line 2
“Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.
Line 3
“Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”
Line 4
“Do what he bids you!” said Fil-de Soie.
Line 5
“You don’t say so?” retorted la Pouraille, looking at his pal.

Learner Dictionary

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

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading ““If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.””

Cried noun US /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.””

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

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

From this reading ““Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.””

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading ““If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.””

Pipe noun US /pipe/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.””

Save preposition US /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading ““Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.””

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading ““If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.””

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.””

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading ““Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.””

All words in this reading · 63

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

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “You don’t say so?” retorted la Pouraille, looking at his pal.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

bids

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

From this reading “Do what he bids you!” said Fil-de Soie.

Biffon

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

boys

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

certainly

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

criednounUS /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

cut

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

From this reading “Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.

Didn't

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

From this reading “Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.

Doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “Do what he bids you!” said Fil-de Soie.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

don't

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

Fil-de

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

From this reading “Do what he bids you!” said Fil-de Soie.

Fil-de-Soie

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

From this reading “Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.

God

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading “Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “You don’t say so?” retorted la Pouraille, looking at his pal.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

la

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

le

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

looking

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

From this reading “You don’t say so?” retorted la Pouraille, looking at his pal.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

nut

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

Oh

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

old

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

only

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

pal

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

From this reading “You don’t say so?” retorted la Pouraille, looking at his pal.

pipe

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

Pouraille

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

really

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

retorted

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

From this reading “You don’t say so?” retorted la Pouraille, looking at his pal.

said

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

saveprepositionUS /seɪv/

except for; apart from

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

say

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

Scratch

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

shiners

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

smoked

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

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “You don’t say so?” retorted la Pouraille, looking at his pal.

Soie

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

From this reading “Do what he bids you!” said Fil-de Soie.

stowed

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

whack

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “If he does that,” said le Biffon, “though I don’t believe he is really God, he must certainly have smoked a pipe with old Scratch, as they say.”

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

yellow

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

From this reading “Oh!” cried la Pouraille, “if only he would save my nut, what a time I would have with my whack of the shiners and the yellow boys I have stowed.”

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Didn’t you hear him say, ‘Old Scratch has cut me’?” said Fil-de-Soie.