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The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu
The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu is here in full — 206 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.
The car was backing out!
It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.
Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.
And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.
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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 Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu is here in full — 206 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.
Line 2
The car was backing out!
/ðə kɑːr wɑːz ˈbækɪŋ aʊt/
Line 3
It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.
/ɪt wɑːz ə ˈdesprɪt ˈmoʊmənt fɔːr ɪt siːmd ðæt wiː kʊd nɑːt feɪl tuː biː dɪˈskʌvərd/
Line 4
Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.
Line 5
And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

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.

backing noun US /ˈbækɪŋ/

the act of providing approval and support

From this reading “The car was backing out!”

doubly adverb US /ˈdʌbli/

to double the degree

From this reading “And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.”

feverishly adverb US /ˈfevərɪʃli/

in a feverish manner

From this reading “Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.”

motor noun US /ˈmoʊtər/

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading “I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.”

paces noun US /ˈpeɪsɪz/

plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading “I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.”

quest noun US /kwest/

a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria

From this reading “Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.”

revealed verb US /rɪˈviːld/

past form of “reveal” — make visible

From this reading “And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.”

seconded verb US /ˈsekəndɪd/

past form of “second” — give support or one's approval to

From this reading “Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.”

All words in this reading · 57

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 I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

anxietynounUS /æŋˈzaɪəti/

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

backingnounUS /ˈbækɪŋ/

the act of providing approval and support

From this reading The car was backing out!

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

beganverbUS /bɪˈɡæn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

carnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading The car was backing out!

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

desperateadjectiveUS /ˈdesprɪt/

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

discoveredadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

doublyadverbUS /ˈdʌbli/

to double the degree

From this reading And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

equalverbUS /ˈiːkwəl/

be identical or equivalent to

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

failverbUS /feɪl/

fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

FatenounUS /feɪt/

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

feverishlyadverbUS /ˈfevərɪʃli/

in a feverish manner

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

hiding-place

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

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

lampnounUS /læmp/

an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

Nayland

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

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The car was backing out!

pacesnounUS /ˈpeɪsɪz/

plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

questnounUS /kwest/

a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

revealedverbUS /rɪˈviːld/

past form of “reveal” — make visible

From this reading And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

secondedverbUS /ˈsekəndɪd/

past form of “second” — give support or one's approval to

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

SmithnounUS /smɪθ/

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/

express a supposition

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

thuddingadjective

not clear and resonant; sounding as if striking with or against something relatively soft

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was a desperate moment, for it seemed that we could not fail to be discovered.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading And Fate was kind to us--doubly kind as after events revealed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The car was backing out!

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I suppose we were not more than a dozen paces from the lamp when we heard the thudding of the motor.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Nayland Smith began to look about him, feverishly, for a hiding-place, a quest in which I seconded with equal anxiety.

Chapter 3 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer holds 206 sentences, grouped into 42 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 3 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu contain?

Chapter 3 holds 206 sentences of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 206 sentences, grouped into 42 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 3 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu

Common questions about reading The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu?

Yes. All 4055 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1183 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1183, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu take to read?

About 337 minutes of reading across 811 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu section by section

How to work through The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu 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 Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Nayland
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Smith
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Asked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Visitor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.