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The King's Jackal
The King's Jackal

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The King's Jackal is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The King's Jackal
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.
Her eyes showed her disappointment.
"It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.
It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.
"It needed a woman of tact, a woman of courage, a woman among women--the Countess Zara.
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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 King's Jackal

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The King's Jackal is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.
Line 2
Her eyes showed her disappointment.
Line 3
"It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.
Line 4
It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.
Line 5
"It needed a woman of tact, a woman of courage, a woman among women--the Countess Zara.

All words in this reading · 63

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 It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

again

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

all

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

among

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

From this reading "It needed a woman of tact, a woman of courage, a woman among women--the Countess Zara.

an

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

and

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

any

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

as

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

beautiful

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

bit

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

but

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

chagrin

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

child

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

circumstances

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

consciously

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

could

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

Countess

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

courage

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

From this reading "It needed a woman of tact, a woman of courage, a woman among women--the Countess Zara.

disappointment

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

From this reading Her eyes showed her disappointment.

doubt

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

easy

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

eyes

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

From this reading Her eyes showed her disappointment.

gentlemen

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

glanced

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

have

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

he

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

her

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

I

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

if

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

in

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

interrupted

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

It

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

King

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

knowing

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

lips

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

Majesty's

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

may

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

needed

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

of

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

over

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

quickly

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

said

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

seem

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

served

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

she

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

shoulder

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

showed

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

From this reading Her eyes showed her disappointment.

some

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

spoiled

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

tact

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

From this reading "It needed a woman of tact, a woman of courage, a woman among women--the Countess Zara.

that

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

The

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

From this reading The Countess glanced again over her shoulder and bit her lips in some chagrin.

to

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

tone

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

used

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

victory

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

well

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

woman

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

women

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

From this reading "It needed a woman of tact, a woman of courage, a woman among women--the Countess Zara.

would

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

From this reading It needed a woman and----" "It needed a beautiful woman," interrupted the King, quickly, in a tone that he would have used to a spoiled child.

you

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

your

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

From this reading "It may seem an easy victory to you," she said, consciously, "but I doubt, knowing all the circumstances, if any of your Majesty's gentlemen could have served you as well.

Zara

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

From this reading "It needed a woman of tact, a woman of courage, a woman among women--the Countess Zara.

Chapter 2 of The King's Jackal by Richard Harding Davis holds 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 2 of The King's Jackal contain?

Chapter 2 holds 176 sentences of The King's Jackal, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The King's Jackal by Richard Harding Davis exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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 2 of The King's Jackal?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 King's Jackal

Common questions about reading The King's Jackal by Richard Harding Davis on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The King's Jackal?

Yes. All 1591 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #411 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The King's Jackal is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #411, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The King's Jackal take to read?

About 132 minutes of reading across 319 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The King's Jackal section by section

How to work through The King's Jackal section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of The King's Jackal 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 King's Jackal

Words and structures a reader meets early in The King's Jackal, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Private
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The King's Jackal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Terrace
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The King's Jackal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hotel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The King's Jackal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Grand
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The King's Jackal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.