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The horror expert
The horror expert

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The horror expert is here in full — 292 sentences across 59 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 3 of The horror expert by Frank Belknap Long holds 292 sentences, grouped into 59 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, 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 3 of The horror expert contain?

Chapter 3 holds 292 sentences of The horror expert, unabridged, divided into 59 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The horror expert by Frank Belknap Long exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 292 sentences, grouped into 59 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 3 of The horror expert?

Work through the 59 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 59 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 horror expert

Common questions about reading The horror expert by Frank Belknap Long on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The horror expert?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The horror expert is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The horror expert take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The horror expert section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of The horror expert to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in The horror expert

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

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The horror expert, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The horror expert, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The horror expert, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Cover illustration for The horror expert
Context Illustration Reading 1/59 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.
It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.
A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.
It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.
If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

The horror expert

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The horror expert is here in full — 292 sentences across 59 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/59 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.
Line 2
It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.
Line 3
A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.
Line 4
It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.
Line 5
If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

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, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.”

Manuscript noun US /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

From this reading “It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.”

Same adjective US /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading “If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.”

All words in this reading · 66

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

alighted

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

almost

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

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

asking

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

ball

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

From this reading A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

brow

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

cheek

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

clicking

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

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

drowned

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

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

enough

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

faint

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

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

fly

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

incredulous

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

just

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

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

kind

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

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

look

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

Lynn

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

make

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

manuscriptnounUS /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

metal

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

From this reading A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.

much

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

offices

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

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

out

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

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

paused

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

ping-pong

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

From this reading A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.

Prentiss

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

produced

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

From this reading A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.

reading

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

really

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

released-pressure

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

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

screen

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

From this reading A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

shot

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

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

sound

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

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

startled

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

strange

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

striking

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

From this reading A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading A ping-pong ball striking a metal screen might have produced such a sound.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

two

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

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

typewriters

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

From this reading The clicking of typewriters in two of the offices almost drowned out the sound of the shot.

unusual

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

up

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

vibrancy

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

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

way

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

From this reading If a fly had alighted on her cheek she might have paused in much the same way, startled, incredulous--asking herself if it really could be a fly.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.

wrinkle

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

From this reading It was strange and unusual enough to make Lynn Prentiss look up from the manuscript she was reading and wrinkle her brow.

zing

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

From this reading It was just a faint _zing_, with a released-pressure kind of vibrancy about it.