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The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice is here in full — 44 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Wilkie Collins • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick.

Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

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 XVI Reading 1/8

The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice Wilkie Collins

Cover illustration for The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice is here in full — 44 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris. Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers. The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick. Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts. He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice is here in full — 44 sentences across 9 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/8 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

Line 2

Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

Line 3

The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick.

Line 4

Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

Line 5

He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

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.

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

Agnes

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

already

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

and

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

answerable

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

From this reading The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick.

Arts

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

at

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

before

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

brother

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

by

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

children

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

connected

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

date

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

departure

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

From this reading The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick.

difference

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

enterprise

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

first

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

for

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

Francis

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

had

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

he

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

Henry

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

her

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

his

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

hotel

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

in

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

increased

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

ingenuity

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

instance

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

invested

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

It

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

Italy

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

journey

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

least

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

Like

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

London

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

made

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

money

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

Mrs

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

new

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

newspaper

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

Norbury

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

of

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

on

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

only

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

own

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

Paris

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

pecuniary

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

person

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

From this reading The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick.

premature

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

From this reading The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick.

profits

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

reached

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

reception

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

resources

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

September

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

speculations

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

started

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

that

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

the

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

theatre

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

their

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

then

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

this

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

From this reading The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick.

three

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

to

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

travellers

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

twentieth

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

was

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

weekly

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

From this reading He had made money, in the first instance, by a weekly newspaper; and he had then invested his profits in a London theatre.

weeks

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

were

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

Westwick

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

From this reading The person answerable for this premature departure was Francis Westwick.

when

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

From this reading It was only the twentieth of September, when Agnes and the children reached Paris.

which

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

From this reading Mrs. Norbury and her brother Francis had then already started on their journey to Italy—at least three weeks before the date at which the new hotel was to open for the reception of travellers.

with

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

younger

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

From this reading Like his younger brother Henry, he had increased his pecuniary resources by his own enterprise and ingenuity; with this difference, that his speculations were connected with the Arts.

Chapter 16 of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins holds 44 sentences, grouped into 9 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 16 of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice contain?

Chapter 16 holds 44 sentences of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice, unabridged, divided into 9 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 44 sentences, grouped into 9 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 16 of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice?

Work through the 9 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 9 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice

Common questions about reading The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice by Wilkie Collins on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice?

Yes. All 4082 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #170 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #170, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice take to read?

About 340 minutes of reading across 817 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice section by section

How to work through The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 28 chapters of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice 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 Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Reputation: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Doctor: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wybrow: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
London: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.