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The Adventure of the Speckled Band
The Adventure of the Speckled Band

Chapter II · The Motive and the Journey to Stoke Moran

Read and study this complete chapter with synchronized narration, pronunciation, and vocabulary support.

By Arthur Conan Doyle • Curated US English Learning Edition

It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

The Speckled Band, The Motive and the Journey to Stoke Moran, reading 1: It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.
He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.
“I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.
“To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.
The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Adventure of the Speckled Band

Chapter II · The Motive and the Journey to Stoke Moran

Study this chapter through synchronized reading, listening, pronunciation, and contextual vocabulary.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.
Line 2
He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.
Line 3
“I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.
Line 4
“To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.
Line 5
The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

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.

Exact adjective US /ɪɡˈzækt/

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading ““To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.”

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 67

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

1100

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
750

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
a

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
agricultural

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
at

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
been

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
blue

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
concerned

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
death

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
deceased

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

From this reading “I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.

Pending verification
determine

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Velmora curated lexicon
excursion

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
fall

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
figures

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
from

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
hand

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
have

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

From this reading “I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.

Pending verification
He

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
held

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
his

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
Holmes

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From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
I

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

From this reading “I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
income

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
investments

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
is

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
It

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
its

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
little

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
meaning

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
more

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
nearly

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
not

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
notes

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
now

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
o'clock

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
obliged

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
one

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
out

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
over

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
paper

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
present

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
prices

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
returned

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
said

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

From this reading “I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.

Pending verification
scrawled

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
seen

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

From this reading “I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.

Pending verification
sheet

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
Sherlock

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
short

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
than

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading “I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.

Pending verification
through

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
time

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
To

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
total

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
when

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

From this reading It was nearly one o’clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his excursion.

Pending verification
which

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification
wife

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

From this reading “I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.

Pending verification
wife's

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

From this reading The total income, which at the time of the wife’s death was little short of £1100, is now, through the fall in agricultural prices, not more than £750.

Pending verification
will

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

From this reading “I have seen the will of the deceased wife,” said he.

Pending verification
with

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

From this reading He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled over with notes and figures.

Pending verification
work

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

From this reading “To determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned.

Pending verification