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The Circular Staircase

Chapter XXXIII · Chapter 33

Chapter 33 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 195 sentences across 39 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

AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

The house was quiet.

Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

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 XXXIII Reading 1/39

The Circular Staircase Mary Roberts Rinehart

Cover illustration for The Circular Staircase

Chapter XXXIII

Chapter 33

Chapter 33 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 195 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place. So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon. The house was quiet. Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new. Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

The Circular Staircase

Chapter XXXIII · Chapter 33

Chapter 33 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 195 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

Line 2

So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

Line 3

The house was quiet.

Line 4

Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

Line 5

Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

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.

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

across

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

and

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

arrive

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

As

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

AT

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

been

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

beyond

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

Burns

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

but

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

Casanova

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

certain

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

circular

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

coming

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

detective

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

drove

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

failed

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

From this reading Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

felt

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

FOOT

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

from

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

Gertrude

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

give

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

gone

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

From this reading Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

hack

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

had

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

Halsey

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

having

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

From this reading Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

home

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

house

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

I

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

in

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

insisted

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

Jamieson

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

lightly

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

locate

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

From this reading Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

loitering

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

message

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

new

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

night

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

nothing

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

now

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

OF

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

off

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

on

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

or

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

place

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

pried

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

putting

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

quiet

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

From this reading The house was quiet.

rapidly

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

ready

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

result

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

room

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

From this reading Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

saw

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

screws

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

second

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

So

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

soon

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

staircase

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

STAIRS

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

Station

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

steps

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

street

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

that

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

THE

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

them

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

there

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

they

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

to

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

twist

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

two

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

up

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

very

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

village

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

From this reading Mr. Jamieson, having failed to locate the secret room, had gone to the village.

Walker

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

From this reading AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS As I drove rapidly up to the house from Casanova Station in the hack, I saw the detective Burns loitering across the street from the Walker place.

was

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

From this reading So Jamieson was putting the screws on—lightly now, but ready to give them a twist or two, I felt certain, very soon.

without

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

would

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

From this reading Two steps of the circular staircase had been pried off, without result, and beyond a second message from Gertrude, that Halsey insisted on coming home and they would arrive that night, there was nothing new.

Chapter 33 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart holds 195 sentences, grouped into 39 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 33 of The Circular Staircase contain?

Chapter 33 holds 195 sentences of The Circular Staircase, unabridged, divided into 39 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 33 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 195 sentences, grouped into 39 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 33 of The Circular Staircase?

Work through the 39 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 39 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 33 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 33 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.