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

Chapter XXXV · Chapter 35

Chapter 35 of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life is here in full — 225 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
How?”
Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.
I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”
Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.
And then,” said Jacques Collin, besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.
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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 XXXV · Chapter 35

Chapter 35 of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life is here in full — 225 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
How?”
Line 2
Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.
/ˈɪdiːət ɪf wiː ˈprɑːməs tuː ɡɪv ðə ˈmʌni bæk tuː ðə ˈfæməli juː wɪl ˈoʊnli biː læɡd fɔːr laɪf/
Line 3
I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”
/aɪ wʊd nɑːt ɡɪv ə piːs fɔːr jɔːr nʌt ɪf wiː kiːp ðə blʌnt bʌt æt ðɪs ˈmoʊmənt juː ɑːr wɜːrθ ˈsevən ˈhʌndrəd ˈθaʊzənd fræŋks juː flæt/
Line 4
Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.
Line 5
And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

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.

blunt adjective US /blʌnt/

having a broad or rounded end

From this reading “I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.””

boss noun US /bɑːs/

a person who exercises control over workers

From this reading ““Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.”

finely adverb US /ˈfaɪnli/

in tiny pieces

From this reading ““And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.”

glee noun US /ɡliː/

great merriment

From this reading ““Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.”

Idiot noun US /ˈɪdiːət/

a person of subnormal intelligence

From this reading ““Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.”

lagged verb US /læɡd/

inflected form of “lag” — hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.

From this reading ““Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.”

murders noun US /ˈmɜːrdərz/

plural of “murder” — unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being

From this reading ““And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.”

nut noun US /nʌt/

usually large hard-shelled seed

From this reading “I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.””

All words in this reading · 60

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 I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

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 “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/

in addition to; as well as

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

Bibi-Lupin

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

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

bluntadjectiveUS /blʌnt/

having a broad or rounded end

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

bossnounUS /bɑːs/

a person who exercises control over workers

From this reading “Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

castingnounUS /ˈkæstɪŋ/

object formed by a mold

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

Collin

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

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading “Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.

familynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

finelyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnli/

in tiny pieces

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

francsnounUS /fræŋks/

plural of “franc” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 centimes

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

gleenounUS /ɡliː/

great merriment

From this reading “Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.

GoodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading “Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading “Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.

How

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

From this reading “How?”

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

IdiotnounUS /ˈɪdiːət/

a person of subnormal intelligence

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.

Jacques

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

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

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

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

lanounUS /lɑː/

a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth

From this reading “Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.

laggedverbUS /læɡd/

inflected form of “lag” — hang (back) or fall (behind) in movement, progress, development, etc.

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

murdersnounUS /ˈmɜːrdərz/

plural of “murder” — unlawful premeditated killing of a human being by a human being

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

nutnounUS /nʌt/

usually large hard-shelled seed

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

piecenounUS /piːs/

a separate part of a whole

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

Pouraille

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

From this reading “Good for you, boss!” cried la Pouraille in great glee.

promiseverbUS /ˈprɑːməs/

make a promise or commitment

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

Ruffard

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

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

sevennounUS /ˈsevən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading “And then,” said Jacques Collin, “besides casting all the murders on Ruffard--Bibi-Lupin will be finely cold.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

worthnounUS /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Idiot, if we promise to give the money back to the family, you will only be lagged for life.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I would not give a piece for your nut if we keep the blunt, but at this moment you are worth seven hundred thousand francs, you flat.”

Chapter 35 of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Honoré de Balzac holds 225 sentences, grouped into 45 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 35 of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life contain?

Chapter 35 holds 225 sentences of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 35 of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 225 sentences, grouped into 45 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 35 of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 35 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 35 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 Scenes from a Courtesan's Life

Common questions about reading Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life?

Yes. All 9211 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1660 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1660, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Scenes from a Courtesan's Life take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1843 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Scenes from a Courtesan's Life section by section

How to work through Scenes from a Courtesan's Life section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life 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 Scenes from a Courtesan's Life

Words and structures a reader meets early in Scenes from a Courtesan's Life, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preparer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lucien
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rubempre
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.