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

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.
Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.
Open the door!”
I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.
He jumped into the road and did as I directed.
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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 XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu is here in full — 122 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.
/maɪ ædˈventʃər hæd dʌn ˈnʌθɪŋ tuː rɪˈliːv ðə ˈfiːlɪŋ ʌv ˌʌnriˈæləti wɪtʃ held miː enˈθrɔːld/
Line 2
Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.
/ˈɡræspɪŋ ðə ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ bɜːrd ˈfɜːrmli baɪ ðə ˈbɑːdi ənd ˈhævɪŋ ðə lɔːŋ waɪt teɪl ˈflʌtərɪŋ ə jɑːrd ɔːr soʊ bɪˈhaɪnd miː aɪ rɪˈtɜːrnd tuː wer ðə ˈtæksi ˈweɪtɪd/
Line 3
Open the door!”
/ˈoʊ.pən ðə dɔːr/
Line 4
I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.
Line 5
He jumped into the road and did as I directed.
/hiː dʒʌmpt ˈɪntuː ðə roʊd ənd dɪd æz aɪ dərˈektəd/

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.

enthralled adjective US /enˈθrɔːld/

filled with wonder and delight

From this reading “My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.”

fluttering noun US /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

the motion made by flapping up and down

From this reading “Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.”

Grasping noun US /ˈɡræspɪŋ/

understanding with difficulty

From this reading “Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.”

mirth noun US /mɜːrθ/

great merriment

From this reading “I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.”

outright adverb US /ˈaʊˈtraɪt/

without restrictions or stipulations or further payments

From this reading “I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.”

relieve verb US /rɪˈliːv/

provide physical relief, as from pain

From this reading “My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.”

taxi verb US /ˈtæksi/

travel slowly

From this reading “Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.”

unreality noun US /ˌʌnriˈæləti/

the quality possessed by something that is unreal

From this reading “My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

adventureverbUS /ædˈventʃər/

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

amazementnounUS /əˈmeɪzmənt/

the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading He jumped into the road and did as I directed.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

birdnounUS /bɜːrd/

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He jumped into the road and did as I directed.

directedadjectiveUS /dərˈektəd/

(often used in combination) having a specified direction

From this reading He jumped into the road and did as I directed.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading “Open the door!”

enthralledadjectiveUS /enˈθrɔːld/

filled with wonder and delight

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

firmlyadverbUS /ˈfɜːrmli/

with resolute determination

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

the motion made by flapping up and down

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

GraspingnounUS /ˈɡræspɪŋ/

understanding with difficulty

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/

past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He jumped into the road and did as I directed.

heldadjectiveUS /held/

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

hollowadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːloʊ/

not solid; having a space or gap or cavity

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He jumped into the road and did as I directed.

jumpedverbUS /dʒʌmpt/

past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading He jumped into the road and did as I directed.

laughedverbUS /læft/

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/

great merriment

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

OpenverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “Open the door!”

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

outrightadverbUS /ˈaʊˈtraɪt/

without restrictions or stipulations or further payments

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

relieveverbUS /rɪˈliːv/

provide physical relief, as from pain

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading He jumped into the road and did as I directed.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

stareverbUS /ster/

look at with fixed eyes

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/

engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

tailnounUS /teɪl/

the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

taxiverbUS /ˈtæksi/

travel slowly

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

unrealitynounUS /ˌʌnriˈæləti/

the quality possessed by something that is unreal

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

waitedverbUS /ˈweɪtɪd/

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading My adventure had done nothing to relieve the feeling of unreality which held me enthralled.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I said to the man--who greeted me with such a stare of amazement that I laughed outright, though my mirth was but hollow.

yardnounUS /jɑːrd/

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading Grasping the struggling bird firmly by the body, and having the long white tail fluttering a yard or so behind me, I returned to where the taxi waited.

Chapter 12 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer holds 122 sentences, grouped into 25 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 12 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu contain?

Chapter 12 holds 122 sentences of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 122 sentences, grouped into 25 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 12 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu?

Work through the 25 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 25 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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.