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The Circular Staircase

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 143 sentences across 29 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

IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

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 VI Reading 1/28

The Circular Staircase

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 143 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

Line 2

The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

Line 3

The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

Line 4

I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

Line 5

Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

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.

Alone adjective US /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading “Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.”

Same adjective US /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading “The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

absolute

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

afternoon

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

and

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

are

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

Armstrong

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

From this reading The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

as

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

been

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

but

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

came

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

From this reading The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

Club

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

coroner

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

From this reading The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

CORRIDOR

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

detective

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

early

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

From this reading The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

EAST

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

enjoined

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

everybody

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

family

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

From this reading The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

Gertrude

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

From this reading Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

Greenwood

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

had

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

he

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

headache

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

From this reading Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

her

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

From this reading Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

himself

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

From this reading The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

household

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

I

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

IN

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

interrogating

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

Jamieson

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

knew

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

known

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

lawyer

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

From this reading The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

left

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

locked

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

From this reading Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

luncheon

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

From this reading Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

Monday

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

morning

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

Mr

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

murder

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

no

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

not

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

notified

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

From this reading The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

on

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

out

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

From this reading The coroner himself notified the Armstrong family lawyer, and early in the afternoon he came out.

papers

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

promised

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

publicly

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

room

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

From this reading Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

secrecy

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

seen

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

servants

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

since

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

From this reading I had not seen Mr. Jamieson since morning, but I knew he had been interrogating the servants.

Sunday

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

THE

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

there

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

thing

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

until

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

was

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

From this reading The Greenwood Club promised the same thing, and as there are no Sunday afternoon papers, the murder was not publicly known until Monday.

When

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

From this reading IN THE EAST CORRIDOR When the detective left he enjoined absolute secrecy on everybody in the household.

with

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

From this reading Gertrude was locked in her room with a headache, and I had luncheon alone.

Chapter 6 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart holds 143 sentences, grouped into 29 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 6 of The Circular Staircase contain?

Chapter 6 holds 143 sentences of The Circular Staircase, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 143 sentences, grouped into 29 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 6 of The Circular Staircase?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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.