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The Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents
The Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents

Chapter XV

Cover illustration for The Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"WHEN THE DEVIL DRIVES."
Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.
With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.
On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.
He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.
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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 Refugees: A Tale of Two Continents

Chapter XV

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"WHEN THE DEVIL DRIVES."
Line 2
Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.
Line 3
With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.
Line 4
On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.
Line 5
He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.”

Journey noun US /ˈjourney/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

aid

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

all

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

ambuscade

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

From this reading Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

approaching

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

band

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

branch

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

carriage

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

charge

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

chosen

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

closed

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

coachman

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

courtiers

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

de

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

From this reading Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.

DEVIL

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

From this reading "WHEN THE DEVIL DRIVES."

discretion

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

From this reading Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.

distance

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

drive

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

DRIVES

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

From this reading "WHEN THE DEVIL DRIVES."

fence

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

flash

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

gold

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.

half-hour

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

highway

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.

horses

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

journeynounUS /ˈjourney/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

king's

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

laid

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

From this reading Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

light

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

main

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

managed

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

messengers

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

Monsieur

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

From this reading Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

ordered

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

palace

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

rapid

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

reaching

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

road

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

ruffians

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

sentinel

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

sister's

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

some

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

stationed

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

tethered

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "WHEN THE DEVIL DRIVES."

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

then

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

two

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading On reaching the branch road he had ordered the coachman to drive some little distance along it, and had tethered all the horses to a fence under his charge.

up

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

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

very

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

From this reading With a closed carriage and a band of chosen ruffians he had left the palace a good half-hour before the king's messengers, and by the aid of his sister's gold he had managed that their journey should not be a very rapid one.

Vivonne

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

From this reading Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading He had then stationed one of the band as a sentinel some distance up the main highway to flash a light when the two courtiers were approaching.

WHENconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "WHEN THE DEVIL DRIVES."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Monsieur de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion.