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The Circular Staircase

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mary Roberts Rinehart • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Circular Staircase

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter V Reading 1/27

The Circular Staircase

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

Line 2

They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

Line 3

The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

Line 4

The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

Line 5

It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

All words in this reading · 61

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.

a

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

after

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

aid

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

and

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

as

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

At

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

body

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

brought

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

busied

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

Casanova

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

city

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

coroner

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

county

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

dead

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

detective

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

detectives

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

ENGAGEMENT

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

examined

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

fair

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

for

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

from

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

GERTRUDE'S

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

got

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

hack

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

had

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

himself

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

house

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

idea

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

introduced

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

It

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

led

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

locked

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

man

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

me

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

men

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

o'clock

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

of

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

once

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

one

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

only

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

other

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

outside

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

rooms

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

scrutiny

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

sent

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

short

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

From this reading The other detective, after a short scrutiny of the dead man, busied himself with the outside of the house.

ten

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

that

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

the

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

themselves

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

They

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

things

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

three

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

to

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

two

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

From this reading They introduced themselves as the coroner of the county and two detectives from the city.

up

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

From this reading GERTRUDE’S ENGAGEMENT At ten o’clock the Casanova hack brought up three men.

was

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

way

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

were

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

From this reading It was only after they had got a fair idea of things as they were that they sent for me.

wing

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

with

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

From this reading The coroner led the way at once to the locked wing, and with the aid of one of the detectives examined the rooms and the body.

Chapter 5 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart holds 138 sentences, grouped into 28 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 5 of The Circular Staircase contain?

Chapter 5 holds 138 sentences of The Circular Staircase, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 5 of The Circular Staircase?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 The Circular Staircase

Common questions about reading The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Circular Staircase?

Yes. All 4811 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #434 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Circular Staircase is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #434, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Circular Staircase take to read?

About 400 minutes of reading across 963 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Circular Staircase section by section

How to work through The Circular Staircase section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 34 chapters of The Circular Staircase to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Circular Staircase

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Circular Staircase, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Story: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Middle-aged: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spinster: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Deserted: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.