Chapter 11 of The Hollow Needle is here in full — 424 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XI
Chapter 11 of The Hollow Needle is here in full — 424 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath: “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor! I had no right to. They are the fortune of France.” Below them, Ganimard was making all speed.
Chapter 11 of The Hollow Needle is here in full — 424 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading ““Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!”
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading ““Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!”
any plant of the genus Lupinus; bearing erect spikes of usually purplish-blue flowers
From this reading ““Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!”
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading “He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:”
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading ““Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!”
move hurridly
From this reading “Below them, Ganimard was making all speed.”
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading ““Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!”
utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading ““Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Below them, Ganimard was making all speed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They are the fortune of France.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
at or to a lower level than something
From this reading Below them, Ganimard was making all speed.
the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading They are the fortune of France.”
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading They are the fortune of France.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Below them, Ganimard was making all speed.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I had no right to.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
any plant of the genus Lupinus; bearing erect spikes of usually purplish-blue flowers
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Below them, Ganimard was making all speed.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
not any; not one
From this reading I had no right to.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
precisely, exactly
From this reading I had no right to.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
move hurridly
From this reading Below them, Ganimard was making all speed.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
utter obscenities or profanities
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
express in words
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Below them, Ganimard was making all speed.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They are the fortune of France.”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He rose to his feet and held up his hand as one taking an oath:
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Below them, Ganimard was making all speed.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Beautrelet, you shall tell the world that Lupin has not taken a single one of the stones that were in the royal chest, not a single one, I swear it on my honor!
Chapter 11 of The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc holds 424 sentences, grouped into 85 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.
Chapter 11 holds 424 sentences of The Hollow Needle, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 11 of The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 424 sentences, grouped into 85 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.
Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 85 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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.
Common questions about reading The Hollow Needle by Maurice Leblanc on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4680 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4017 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #4017, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 390 minutes of reading across 936 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Hollow Needle section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 11 chapters of The Hollow Needle to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Hollow Needle, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
