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

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu is here in full — 123 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
In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.
I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.
Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.
But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.
We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu is here in full — 123 sentences across 25 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.
Line 2
I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.
/aɪ ʃæl diːl wɪð ɪt ɪn ðɪs pleɪs ˈbeɡɪŋ juː tuː ber wɪð miː ɪf aɪ siːm tuː daɪˈɡres/
Line 3
Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.
Line 4
But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.
Line 5
We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.
/wiː hæd nɑːt lɔːŋ ˈfɪnɪʃt ˈbrekfəst bʌt frʌm æn ˈɜːrli ˈaʊər smɪθ hæd bɪn æt hɪz ɪˈtɜːrnəl ˈsmoʊkɪŋ wɪtʃ ˈoʊnli ðə ˈædvent ʌv ðə miːl hæd ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/

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.

activities noun US /ækˈtɪvətiz/

plural of “activity” — any specific behavior

From this reading “In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.”

advent noun US /ˈædvent/

arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)

From this reading “We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.”

digress verb US /daɪˈɡres/

lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking

From this reading “I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.”

grate noun US /ɡreɪt/

a frame of iron bars to hold a fire

From this reading ““But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.”

idly adverb US /ˈaɪdli/

in an idle manner

From this reading ““But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.”

phase noun US /feɪz/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading “In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.”

tapping noun US /ˈtæpɪŋ/

the sound of light blow or knock

From this reading ““But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.”

uninhabitable adjective US /ˌʌnɪnˈhæbətəbəl/

not fit for habitation

From this reading “Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.”

All words in this reading · 105

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 Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

accountnounUS /əˈkaʊnt/

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

activitiesnounUS /ækˈtɪvətiz/

plural of “activity” — any specific behavior

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

adventnounUS /ˈædvent/

arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous)

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

adventureverbUS /ædˈventʃər/

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

associatedverbUS /əˈsoʊsieɪtɪd/

past form of “associate” — make a logical or causal connection

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

barnounUS /bɑːr/

a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

bearverbUS /ber/

have

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

beggingnounUS /ˈbeɡɪŋ/

a solicitation for money or food (especially in the street by an apparently penniless person)

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

dealverbUS /diːl/

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

dealingnounUS /ˈdiːlɪŋ/

method or manner of conduct in relation to others

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

digressverbUS /daɪˈɡres/

lose clarity or turn aside especially from the main subject of attention or course of argument in writing, thinking, or speaking

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

Dr

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

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

enjoyedverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪd/

past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

enterverbUS /ˈentər/

to come or go into

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

episodenounUS /ˈepəsoʊd/

a happening that is distinctive in a series of related events

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

eternaladjectiveUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəl/

continuing forever or indefinitely

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

fieryadjectiveUS /ˈfaɪəri/

characterized by intense emotion

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

finishedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪnɪʃt/

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

Fu-Manchu's

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

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

gratenounUS /ɡreɪt/

a frame of iron bars to hold a fire

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

Hampstead

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

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

idlyadverbUS /ˈaɪdli/

in an idle manner

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

inconsequentadjective

lacking worth or importance

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

inquiredverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪərd/

past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

InspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/

a high ranking police officer

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/

discontinued temporarily

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

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 We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

mealnounUS /miːl/

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

Nayland

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

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

phasenounUS /feɪz/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

pipenounUS /paɪp/

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

provincenounUS /ˈprɑːvəns/

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

reputationnounUS /ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən/

the state of being held in high esteem and honor

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

Roon

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

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

seeminglyadverbUS /ˈsiːmɪŋli/

from appearances alone

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

shortlyadverbUS /ˈʃɔːrtli/

for a short time

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

singularadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələr/

unusual or striking

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

sinisteradjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪstər/

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

SmithnounUS /smɪθ/

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

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

surprisingadjectiveUS /sərˈpraɪzɪŋ/

causing surprise or wonder or amazement

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

tappingnounUS /ˈtæpɪŋ/

the sound of light blow or knock

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

uninhabitableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪnˈhæbətəbəl/

not fit for habitation

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

VannounUS /væn/

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We had not long finished breakfast, but from an early hour Smith had been at his eternal smoking, which only the advent of the meal had interrupted.

Weymouth

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

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Inspector Weymouth called one morning, shortly after the Van Roon episode, and entered upon a surprising account of a visit to a house at Hampstead which enjoyed the sinister reputation of being uninhabitable.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

worstnounUS /wɜːrst/

the least favorable outcome

From this reading In looking over my notes dealing with the second phase of Dr. Fu-Manchu’s activities in England, I find that one of the worst hours of my life was associated with the singular and seemingly inconsequent adventure of the fiery hand.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I shall deal with it in this place, begging you to bear with me if I seem to digress.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “But in what way does the case enter into your province?” inquired Nayland Smith, idly tapping out his pipe on a bar of the grate.

Chapter 24 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer holds 123 sentences, grouped into 25 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 24 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu contain?

Chapter 24 holds 123 sentences of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu, unabridged, divided into 25 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 123 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 24 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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, a public-domain edition. 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.