"How did he come
"In answer to an advertisement
"Was he the only applicant
"No, I had a dozen
"Why did you pick him
"Because he was handy and would come cheap
applicant ['&plIk@nt], dozen [dVzn], handy ['h&ndI], cheap [tSi:p]
"How did he come?"
"In answer to an advertisement."
"Was he the only applicant?"
"No, I had a dozen."
"Why did you pick him?"
"Because he was handy and would come cheap."
"At half-wages, in fact
"Yes."
"What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding
"Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways
stout-built [staut'bIlt], quick [kwIk], acid ['&sId], forehead ['fOrId]
"At half-wages, in fact."
"Yes."
"What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?"
"Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon his forehead."
Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement
considerable [k@n'sId@r@bl], excitement [Ik'saItm@nt], pierced [pI@st], earring ['I@rIN]
"Yes, sir. He told me that a gypsy had done it for him when he was a lad
gypsy ['dZIpsI], lad [l&d]
"Hum
sinking ['sINkIN], thought [TO:t]
Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are pierced for earrings?"
"Yes, sir. He told me that a gypsy had done it for him when he was a lad."
"Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still with you?"
"Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him
"And has your business been attended to in your absence
"Nothing to complain of, sir
absence ['&bs@ns], complain [k@m'pleIn], sir [s@:]
"That will do, Mr. Wilson
opinion [@'pInj@n], course [kO:s], Saturday ['s&t@dI], conclusion [k@n'klu:Zn]
"Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him."
"And has your business been attended to in your absence?"
"Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a morning."