Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery
The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery

Chapter XXXV

Chapter 35 of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery is here in full — 162 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE ROSEBUD MOUTH.
"What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.
Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.
The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.
Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.
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 Incendiary: A Story of Mystery

Chapter XXXV

Chapter 35 of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery is here in full — 162 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE ROSEBUD MOUTH.
/ðə ˈroʊzbəd maʊθ/
Line 2
"What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.
Line 3
Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.
Line 4
The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.
Line 5
Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

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.

characteristically adverb US /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪkli/

in characteristic manner

From this reading “Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.”

cogent adjective US /ˈkoʊdʒənt/

powerfully persuasive

From this reading “Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.”

geniality noun US /ˌdʒiːniˈæləti/

a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)

From this reading “Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.”

inelastic adjective US /ˌɪnəˈlæstɪk/

not elastic

From this reading “Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.”

intimidate verb US /ˌɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/

make timid or fearful

From this reading “Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.”

perjury noun US /ˈpɜːrdʒəri/

criminal offense of making false statements under oath

From this reading “Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.”

rosebud noun US /ˈroʊzbəd/

the bud of a rose

From this reading “THE ROSEBUD MOUTH.”

wrangle noun US /ˈræŋɡəl/

an angry dispute

From this reading “The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

district attorney noun + noun

an official prosecutor for a judicial district

In this reading “The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.”

weaker sex adjective + noun counted as “weak sex”

In this reading “Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.”

previous day's adjective + noun counted as “previous day”

In this reading “The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.”

already formed adverb + adjective

In this reading “Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.”

in the world preposition + article + noun counted as “in … world”

In this reading “"What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.”

charge of verb + particle

In this reading “Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.”

All words in this reading · 93

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

Aronson's

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

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

attorneynounUS /əˈtɜːrni/

a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

barometernounUS /bərˈɑːmɪtər/

an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

Bigelow's

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

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

brother'snounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/

possessive form of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

characteristicallyadverbUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪkli/

in characteristic manner

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

chargeverbUS /tʃɑːrdʒ/

to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

clungverbUS /klʌŋ/

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

cogentadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊdʒənt/

powerfully persuasive

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

convictionsnounUS /kənˈvɪkʃənz/

plural of “conviction” — an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

courtnounUS /kɔːrt/

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

day'snounUS /deɪz/

possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

districtnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkt/

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

effortnounUS /ˈefərt/

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

Emily

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

From this reading "What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.

formedadjectiveUS /fɔːrmd/

having or given a form or shape

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

genialitynounUS /ˌdʒiːniˈæləti/

a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.

helpverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.

inelasticadjectiveUS /ˌɪnəˈlæstɪk/

not elastic

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/

a high ranking police officer

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

intimidateverbUS /ˌɪnˈtɪmɪdeɪt/

make timid or fearful

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.

issueverbUS /ˈɪʃuː/

prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

mainadjectiveUS /meɪn/

most important element

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

McCausland's

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

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/

and nothing more

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

MOUTHnounUS /maʊθ/

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading THE ROSEBUD MOUTH.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

objectedverbUS /əbˈdʒektəd/

past form of “object” — express or raise an objection or protest or criticism or express dissent

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

openingnounUS /ˈoʊpənɪŋ/

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

perjurynounUS /ˈpɜːrdʒəri/

criminal offense of making false statements under oath

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

previousadjectiveUS /ˈpriːviəs/

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

proofnounUS /pruːf/

any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

proposedverbUS /prəˈpoʊzd/

past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

protestnounUS /ˈproʊtest/

a formal and solemn declaration of objection

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

remarkingverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkɪŋ/

-ing form of “remark” — make mention of

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

ROSEBUDnounUS /ˈroʊzbəd/

the bud of a rose

From this reading THE ROSEBUD MOUTH.

Serena's

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

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

sexnounUS /seks/

activities associated with sexual intercourse

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

Shagarach

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

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

Shagarach's

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

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

smileverbUS /smaɪl/

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

smilingnounUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading "What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

sturdyadjectiveUS /ˈstɜːrdi/

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

sufficientlyadverbUS /səˈfɪʃəntli/

to a sufficient degree

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/

sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE ROSEBUD MOUTH.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

uneasinessnounUS /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/

feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

unusualadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəl/

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

warrantnounUS /ˈwɔːrənt/

a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

weakeradjectiveUS /ˈwiːkər/

comparative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

From this reading Inspector McCausland's smile was a barometer of her own uneasiness, and she could not help remarking his unusual geniality at the opening of the court on Wednesday.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.

WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

witnessnounUS /ˈwɪtnəs/

someone who sees an event and reports what happened

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Whether it was that Shagarach's charge of perjury was not sufficiently supported (it was merely Aronson's word against Serena's) or that Bigelow's inelastic mind characteristically clung in the face of cogent proof to the convictions it had already formed, he had objected might and main to the proposed issue of a warrant and even gone so far as to protest against his learned brother's effort to intimidate a witness of the weaker sex.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading "What in the world is he smiling for?" asked Emily.

wranglenounUS /ˈræŋɡəl/

an angry dispute

From this reading The previous day's work had closed with a sturdy wrangle between Shagarach and the district attorney.

Chapter 35 of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery by William Augustine Leahy holds 162 sentences, grouped into 33 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 35 of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery contain?

Chapter 35 holds 162 sentences of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 35 of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery by William Augustine Leahy exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 162 sentences, grouped into 33 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 35 of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 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 35 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 35 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 Incendiary: A Story of Mystery

Common questions about reading The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery by William Augustine Leahy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery?

Yes. All 9305 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39544 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39544, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1861 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery section by section

How to work through The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery 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 Incendiary: A Story of Mystery

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Fanfare
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Begins
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Half-past
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Three
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.