Evans Tries An O-Level, Explanation, Line by Line, Meaning of Difficult Words, English CBSE Class 12 NCERT Vistas Chapter 7

 Evans Tries An O-Level, Explanation, Line by Line, Meaning of Difficult Words, English CBSE Class 12 NCERT Vistas Chapter 7

EVANS TRIES AN O-LEVEL

(Explanation and Meaning of difficult words)

Author – Colin Dexter

Word	Meaning
In the early March	During initial days of March

During initial days of March, Secretary of the Examinations Board received a phone call from Governor of Oxford Prison. The Governor of the prison makes a request to the Secretary. The request is to conduct an exam for a prisoner.

 

The Secretary says that normally they did not get such requests. But he agrees to conduct the exam. He confirms from Governor that there is only one candidate.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Chap	Person
Dead keen	Highly interested

Governor confirms that there is only one candidate. Name of the candidate is Evans. In September he had started studying in night classes to prepare for O-level exam in German language. Governor informs that Evans is very much interested in getting a certificate of educational qualification.

 

Secretary asks if that person (Evans) is good in his studies.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Cost a packet	Very costly

Governor says that Evans was the only student in the class. So it was like taking individual tuition. He is not sure how much Evans knows. If he was outside the jail, the cost of tuition would have been too much for Evans. (Looks like jail authority paid for tuition)

 

 

Word	Meaning
Jolly kind of you	Very nice of you

The Secretary tells that we should give Evans a chance to appear at the exam. He asks opinion of Governor. The Governor say that it was so kind of him, The Governor asks about the procedure for writing the exam.

 

 

The Secretary assured Governor not to worry about the procedure. He will send all the forms and other papers to Governor. He again confirms that Evans is the name of the prisoner.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Grand	Impressive, Very big

Governor replied it was James Roderick Evans. The name looked impressive.

 

 

The Secretary asks Governor if Evans is a violent person. He does not want to know why Evans has been jailed. He only wants to know if Evans is violent.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Bit of a card	Funny, Naughty, Mischievious
Concert	Musical performance

Governor clarifies that Evans does not have any record of violence. He is a pleasant person. He is naughty. He is a good performer at the Christmas concerts.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Imitations	Copy
Congenital	Habitual
Kleptomaniac	Tendency to steal
Tempted	Wanted, Was eager
Look after	Take care, To handle

He can do imitations and other such things just like Mike Yarwood used to do. [Mike Yarwood was a great comedian]. Evans is habitual thief. The Governor wanted to inform many more things about Evans but he did not. He thought that he will himself take care of those aspects.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Presumably	With an assumption

The Secretary asked if a room can be arranged for the exam. The Governor replies that Evans is alone in his cell. If the Secretary does not have an objection, Evans can write his exam there. The Secretary agrees.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Parson	Priest
Invigilate	Supervise candidate during exam

The Governor says that he can easily get a priest from St Mary Mags church to supervise the exam.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Chuckled	Laughed
Good naturedly	Friendly
Incommunicado	Not able to communicate

The secretary agrees. He says that the church has many priests. The two man laughed as if they were friends. The secretary asked one more question. Will the Governor have any problem in preventing Evans to communicate with anyone?

 

 

Word	Meaning
Reiterated	Said once again

The Governor laughed very politely. [He wanted to say that it was so obvious and easy]. He once again thanked the Secretary and put the receiver of the phone on the cradle.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Gracing the premises	Stay in that building
Disgrace	Insult

Among prison officers, Evans was known as ‘Evans the Break’. He had escaped from prison thrice. There was some unrest in the high security building of north side of the town. So Evans could be caught otherwise it was not possible to catch him. Evans was now staying in the Oxford Prison. Governor wanted to make sure that Evans did not escape from his prison. That would be an insult to Governor.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Burden	Problem
Persistent	Continuous
Nagging	Harassing, Painful, Worrying
See to it	Make sure

Evans did not give problem to anybody. But he was a constant worry.[Because he was famous for escaping from prison] Governor wanted to personally make sure that Evans remained in the Oxford Prison.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Besides	In addition to

In addition to all these, probably Evans was really interested in O-level exam of German language.  Though it is a very low possibility.

 

 

On 7^th June, Monday at 8:30 PM, the teacher of German language shook hand with Evans in the Recreation Block of jail. The jail had several guards. Cell of Evans was opposite to D wing.

 

 

The teacher said in German – Good Luck Mr Evans. But Evans did not understand. So teacher explained in English. Evans thanked the teacher for his good wishes.

 

 

 

Word	Meaning
Cat in hell’s chance	No chance

The teacher told Evans that he did not have any chance to pass in the exam. Evans replied that he would give surprise to everybody.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Following morning	Next day in the morning
Tuck in	To put in
Grubby	Dirty
String – vest	Baniyaan of thin material
Trousers	Pant
Bunk	Bed

At 8:30 in the next morning a person, actually two persons came to meet Evans. Evans tucked-in his dirty vest into his dirty pant. He stood up from his bed. He was smiling and happy. He said to Mr Jackson good morning and that he was really happy to meet Mr Jackson.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Burly	Strong, Well built
Surly	Bad tempered, Impolite

Jackson was the senior prison officer. He was in-charge of D wing. Evans and Jackson were enemies. Another officer Stephens was standing near Jackson. Stephens had recently joined his job. Jackson was a strong and bad tempered person.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Curtly	Rudely
Jew	A tribe living in Israel

Jackson rudely asked Evans how was the little Einstein. Jackson had asked this questions sarcastically. Evans asked Jackson if Einstein was a mathematician. Then Evans told Jackson that in his opinion Einstein was a Jew.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Filthy	Dirty, Cheap
Bust in	Come in

Evans had not shaved. He was wearing a dirty looking bobble hat. Colour of hat was red and white. Evans requested Jackson to give him some time to shave. Jackson had come when Evans was about to start shaving.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Turned his eyes	Looked at
Scraping	Rubbing
Mug	Face

Jackson looks at Stephens and orders to take razor from Evans after he completes his shaving of his ugly face. Jackson fears that Evans may cut his own throat with the help of razor. [Evans may commit suicide]. And that could be a problem for us. [Sarcastically Jackson uses the word ‘favour’ instead of ‘trouble’]

 

 

Word	Meaning
Ramrod straight	Perfectly straight, Upright
String of	Series of, Many
Paraded	Displayed

Evans looked at Jackson who was standing perfectly straight opposite to him. Many medals of Second World War were displayed on left side of his uniform.

 

 

Evans asked if Jackson had taken his scissors. He used to cut his nail with that scissors. Evans always took good care of his nails. Jackson replied that he had also taken his file used for filing of nails.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Smouldered	Burned, Became red

Eyes of Evans started burning because of anger. But Jackson was ready for such reaction.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Leered	Looked
Harsh	Cruel
Contemptuous	Disrespect

Jackson informed Evans that this was the order of Governor. Jackson bent forward and looked into eyes of Evans. He asked in a very low and cruel voice if Evans wanted to complain. Voice Jackson was full of disrespect towards Evans.

 

 

Word	Meaning
To shrug shoulders	To raise shoulders
Crisis	Problem
Smarten	To look better
Take off	Remove

Evans raised his shoulders. The problem was over. [Evans did not say anything]. Jackson reminded that Evans had half an hour to prepare himself and look better. [Because exam was to start after half an hour]. Jackson asked Evans to remove his hat.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Filthy	Dirty, Bad looking
Lucky charm	Something lucky

Evans put his hand on his dirty hat. He told Jackson that it was his lucky charm. The hat was the only thing lucky for him. And today is my exam. [Evans is requesting permission of Jackson to allow him to wear hat]

 

 

Word	Meaning
Tiny core	Small amount
Compassion	Sympathy
Shirley Temple	A famous child artist of Hollywood
Loathed	Hated

Evans knew that Jackson had some small amount of sympathy in his heart. Jackson addresses Evans as Shirley Temple and says that he will be allowed to keep only his hat. [Jackson really hated long and curly hair of Evans.] Jackson asked Evans to do shaving.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Stepped out briskly	Walked quickly
Carfax	Main place in a city

At 8:45 in the morning of the same day, Reverend Stuart McLeery (he was a priest) came out of his bachelor’s flat. His flat was in Broad Street of the town. He started walking quickly towards Carfax of the town.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Weatherman	Those who forecast weather
Considerably below	Much below
Drizzle	Slow rains
Steady	Continuous
Spattered	Sprayed

As per weather forecast, temperature in June was to be much below normal. Mcleery was wearing a long overcoat of black colour and a clerical hat. He thought that these would protect him from rain. There was continuous slow rains which had started half an hour earlier than predicted. Drops of rains were falling on his spectacles that had thick glasses.

 

 

McLeery had a brown small suitcase in his right hand. This suitcase had a sealed question paper envelope, a yellow form of invigilation, a special card from Examinations Board, a paper knife, a Bible and a newspaper The Church Times. [In the afternoon Mcleery was to speak at a forum of Women’s Guild about a book ‘Book of Ruth’]

 

 

Word	Meaning
Leathering	Applying shaving cream
Vigorously	Forcefully
Distemper	Type of paint

The exam was to start at 9:15 AM. It was a two hour exam. Evans was applying shaving cream on his face. Stephen brought two small tables. He put these tables between the bed and the wall. The space was narrow. The wall was painted with distemper.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Battered	Damaged
Laddy	Friend

Then Stephen brought two chairs. These were without cushion. The less damaged chair was put near the table that was closer to the door of the cell. Jackson came for the last moment and told Evans to behave properly.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Nodded	Moved head
Pin-ups	Posters
Take them down	Remove these
Minister	A person from church

Evans looked at Jackson and nodded in agreement. Jackson asked him to remove all the posters. Evans agreed. Evans told that he was about to remove these. Evans asked if the person coming for invigilation was from a church.

 

 

Jackson politely asked how Evans was aware of this. Evans said that he had signed some forms. He came to know through those forms.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Swath	Narrow strip
Lather	Foam
Bug	To secretly listen
Vaguely	Strangely

Evans moved his razor on his left cheek. It made a strip in white foam of shaving cream. Evans took permission from Jackson to ask a question. He asked why they were trying to listen to the talks of this cell. He looked towards a point above the door and moved his head.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Conceded	Agreed, Accepted

Jackson agreed that it was not a good thing. Evans asked if they are thinking that he would try to (escape)

 

 

Word	Meaning
Listen in	Secretly listen

Jackson told that they are not taking any chances. Nobody would like to take any chance with you. Evans asked who is going to secretly listen. (To what was happening in the cell during exam.)

 

 

Word	Meaning
Hawk	Eagle
Watch like a hawk	Watch constantly & carefully
keep your nose clean	Not to make trouble

Jackson informs that Governor himself would be listening in during the exam. The Governor does not believe Evans at all. Jackson also does not believe Evans. Jackson says that he will be constantly watching Evans. He advises Evans not to make any mischief.

 

 

Evans again nodded. Evans had already thought about these. He was keeping a handkerchief (Number Two Handkerchief, meaning second handkerchief) ready on his bed. It was an off-white colour square shaped cloth. Evans had folded it nicely. [Probably he had two handkerchiefs and  he was using his first handkerchief during his shaving.]

 

 

Jackson sarcastically calls Evans an Einstein. He wishes good luck to Evans.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Lodge	Room
Thence	From there
Greeted by	Welcomed by

There is small room at the main entrance of the prison. McLeery writes his name and signs in the visitor’s book kept there. From that room he walks to the exercise yard of D wing. An officer of prison is walking with McLeery without speaking anything. At the yard Jackson welcomes McLeery

 

 

The heavy outer door of the wing was opened. People walked in . This door was closed. Same procedure was adopted for the inner door. Now responsibility of McLeery was given to Stephens.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Keep eyes skinned	Be careful

Jackson asked Stephens to take razor from Evans. He also advised Stephens to be careful.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Clanging	Metallic sound

Stephens nodded. He and McLeery walked up the iron staircase. The iron stair case was making lot of metallic sound. Finally he was standing in fornt of the door of the cell. Stephens looked through the hole of the door and told McLeery that Evans was there.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Farther	At a greater distance
Thud	A loud sound
Twang	Metallic sound

Evans’s face was towards the door. He was sitting on the table which was away from the door. His total attention was on the textbook of German language. Stephens took out the key from the key-ring. He unlocked the door. The lock opened with  a metallic sound. McLeery entered the cell. The door was locked.

 

 

Now it was 9:10 AM. Governor switched on the receiver. He could listen to every sound made in the cell. He had installed the receiver temporarily as a precaution. The Governor had ordered Jackson to tell Evans about the receiver. (Governor thought that Evans would not notice the receiver)

 

 

But it all looked like a drama. Almost like a school level drama. How Evans will try to escape today. If he once again wanted to escape, he should have tried to escape from Recreation Block. That would have been much easier.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Hay	Grass
Haystack	Pile of grass

But Evans had not tried to escape from Recreation Block. Now he was sitting in a locked room. All officers of the prison were alert. Two more doors after the cell were locked. Then there was a yard . The boundary wall was very high. So Evans was as safe as one would be in house. [Means there was no opportunity for him to escape]

 

 

But Governor thought it was not a problem to keep the receiver on for next some hours. He hope that  there would not be anything to listen during the exam.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Nagging	Painful, Regular

It was the duty of the invigilator to strictly maintain silence during the exam. But the Governor was worried and had some doubts. Evans may try to take help from McLeery. Evans might have asked McLeery to secretly bring a chisel or a rope.

 

 

The governor suddenly sat straight because he was alarmed. It was good that he had removed from cell anything that could be used as a weapon. But he was not sure about McLeery. [Mcleery may have brought some weapon]

 

 

Word	Meaning
Unwittingly	Unintentionally
Innocent	Honest, Innocous
Jack knife	A small knife
Hostage	Hold somebody

What will happen if honest McLeery had brought something unintentionally? May be a small knife. And Evans takes Mcleery as a hostage with that weapon.

 

 

At 9:12 AM Governor made a phone call. By this time Evans (examinee) and McLeery (invigilator) had been introduced to each other. Jackson reached the cell and asked MacLeery and Stephens to come out of the cell.

 

 

Jackson explained to McLeery worries of Governor. Mcleery raised his hands above the shoulder level so that he can be searched. Jackson checked clothes of McLeery. He felt something hard in his pocket.

 

 

McLeery replied that it was his spectacles. He showed the case of spectacles to Jackson.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Reassured	Not to worry
Landing	Horizontal surface on stair
Thumb flicked	Opened using thumbs
Catches	Locks

Jackson quickly told McLeery that there was no cause for worrying. Jackson bent on landing of the stair case. He used his thumbs to open locks of suitcase. He picked each envelop. He moved his palm on every envelope and was satisfied.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Riffled	Turned over pages  quickly
Holy Writ	Bible
Sorely	Extremely, Too much

Jackson quickly turned over pages of Bible and shook the newspaper ‘The Church Times’. These seemed OK to him. But one item in the suitcase was troubling him extremely.

 

 

Jackson found a small hollow rubber ring. It was not completely full. Its diameter was about twelve inches. Jackson asked McLeery why he had brought that ring. Was he going for swimming? [This is a sarcasm because with such a small ring none can swim]

 

 

Word	Meaning
Hitherto	Till that time
Amiable	Friendly
Demeanour	Behaviour, Appearance
Ruffled	Disturbed
Pleasantry	Joke

Till that time behaviour of McLeery was friendly. Now he was slightly disturbed by the poor joke of Jackson.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Sourly	Unfriendly manner
Haemorrhoids	Name of a disease

He replied to Jackson in an unfriendly manner. Mcleery told Jackson that he was suffering from a disease. It was not possible for him to sit for long time. So he used to place the ring on chair and then sit.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Embarrassment	Shame, Discomfort
Reddening	Making red,

Jackson expressed sorry to Mcleery. His face had become red due to shame. He found a paper knife in the suitcase. He told Mcleery that he will need to remove it.

 

 

Word	Meaning
More than a little late	After sometime, Delayed
Getting under way	Getting started

Now it was 9:18 AM. Governor again heard their voices on his receiver. He understood that exam will start after some time.

 

 

McLeery asked if Evans had a watch. Evans replied yes sir.

 

 

 

McLeery told Evans that he will tell when to start writing exam. He will inform Evans when five minutes are remaining to end time of exam.

 

 

McLeery tells that he has many more blank papers if Evans needs. He tells Evans to write 021-1 on the top of the left hand corner of the paper.

 

 

McLeery tells Evans to write his index number 313 on the top of the right hand corner of the paper. Then to write his centre number 271.

 

 

Mcleery tells Evans that now he will ….. But Evans stops him and asks a question. Is he (Stephens) going to be in the cell or will he go out. McLeery replies that he does not know about it.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Breathing down my neck	Remain very near

Stephens replies that he has strict instruction for Jackson to be in the cell. Evans tells that he will not be able to concentrate on his exam if Stephens stayed so near to him in the cell. Evans felt sorry for saying this.

 

 

The Governor picked up phone. He asked Jackson to call Stephens out from the cell. Governor thought that they were taking too many precautions.

 

 

Jackson replied that he will do what Governor asked him to do. The governor once again heard the metallic sound of door. Now McLerry announced that finally the exam had started. It was 9:25 AM. There was total silence

 

 

At 9:40 AM, the Governor received a phone from Examination Board. The Assistant Secretary, responsible for modern language exam had made the call. She asked if the exam had already started. The Governor replied that it started 15 minutes ago.

 

 

The Assistant Secretary informed that they had forgotten to place a correction slip with the exam paper. The governor was requested to do the needful.

 

 

The Governor said he will surely get it done. He said he will transfer the call to Jackson who was in the D wing.

 

 

Governor started thinking if he should be careful about the call. Was this call was a fake call or some signal or some secret message. Governor thought that he should quickly confirm.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Staccato bleeps	Intermittent beeps

Governor dialled the number of Examination Board. That number was busy. He heard the beeps of busy tone. Governor thought it was not a very intelligent way of checking but that phone was busy. He assured himself.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Scots voice	Accent of Scotland

After two minutes, he heard some communication in a very low voice. [Jackson was talking to McLeery]. Then he heard the loud voice of McLeery. It had an accent of Scotland. (scots voice)

 

 

Word	Meaning
Wee while	For some time

McLeery asked Evans to stop writing for some time and listen carefully. He said that following corrections in the exam paper are to be noted.

 

 

Word	Meaning
zum	To the
goldenen	Golden
goldene	Gold
lowen	Lion

Mcleery asked Evans to change the word ‘goldene’ to ‘goldenen’. So now the phrase would be ‘zum goldenen Lowen’ ( To the Golden Lion) from ‘zum goldene Lowen’ (To the Gold Lion). McLeery repeated the correction.

 

 

The Governor listened to the announcement and smiled to himself. He had studied German language in sixth standard. He remembered how to use adjectives. [Gold is noun and golden is adjective]

 

 

Governor thought that  McLeery also understood use of adjectives. Because pronunciation of minister (priest) was very good. Governor thought that Evans did not know anything about adjectives.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Remand	To take person into custody

Again the phone of Governor rang. It was from Magistrate’s Court. They wanted a van and some prison officers. A person needed to be transferred from court to prison.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Hoax	Joke, Trick
To run riot	Get out of control

For two minutes Governor thought if it was a trick by Evans. Then he told himself not to be a fool. He imagined that his thought were getting out of control.

Governor again started thinking about Evans.

 

 

For first fifteen minutes, Stephens looked into the cell at every minute through the peep-hole. After that he started looking at every two minutes.

 

 

Word	Meaning
More or less	Approximately

At 10:45 when he looked through the peephole, everything was OK. Stephens thought that there was no point in looking for four or five seconds. Everything was approximately same.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Sorely needed	Really required

Evans had put pen into his mouth. He was always staring at the door. Stephens always saw this. It seemed to Stephens that Evans was really in need of some inspiration to solve question paper.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Askew	Not straight, Inclined
Semi-profile	Not fully seen
Amateurishly	Unskillfully
Scalp	Head

McLeery was sitting opposite Evans. He was not sitting straight. His full face could not be seen. His hair were unskillfully combed close to his head. Stephens had noticed this earlier when McLeery came to the prison.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Pebble lenses	Spectacles with round lenses
Peering	Looking carefully
Short sightedly	From close distance
Meticulously	Carefully, Neatly
Manicured	Trimmed, Cut
Stroking	Rubbing

McLeery was wearing a spectacles that had thick round lenses. He was holding newspaper ‘The Church Times’ close to his face. His right index finger was always near his collar. His nails were neatly cut. His left hand was slowly rubbing his short black beard.

 

 

At 10;50 AM a sound came from the receiver. The governor realised that he had forgotten about Evans for a short time.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Parky	Cold, Chilly

Evans was requesting MCleery. He requested McLeery to allow to put a blanket on his shoulders. He was feeling cold.

 

 

Evans tells that there is a blanket on his bed. McLeery tells Evans to hurry up and put the blanket.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Regulation	Regular, Routine
Draped	Wrapped
Frowned	Worried, Annoyed

It is 10:51 AM. Stephens is surprised to see a grey colour blanket wrapped around shoulders of Evans. It was a regular blanket of cell. He was slightly worried and carefully looked at Evans.

 

 

Evans still had pen between his teeth. He was still staring at the door. Evans had put a blanket on his shoulders and was looking blankly at the door. Stephens started thinking if he should report this minor irregular activity.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Fishy	Suspicious

Jackson had told Stephens to report anything suspicious. He looked once again through the door. Evans pulled the blanket closer to himself. It looked like he was feeling very cold.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Leap	Jump
Suffocate	To stop breathing, Lack of air
Daft	Mad

Stephens thought if Evans was trying to jump on McLeery in the batman style. This way McLeery will stop breathing and die. Stephens tells himself not to be a mad person.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Chilly	Very cold

Stephen thought that on this side of prison sun rays did not reach. So heat was not reaching the cell even during summer period. So it may become cold in some cells.

 

 

Therefore Stephens decided to ignore this minor observation. He again started his routine of watching Evans at every one minute.

 

 

At 11:20 there was a sound from receiver in the office of Governor. McLeery informed Evans that now only five minutes were remaining to end the examination.

 

 

 

Word	Meaning
Gnawed	Bothered

The examination was about to be completed. But something was still worrying the Governor. He once again picked up the phone.

 

 

At 11:22 AM Jackson shouted from the corridor. He informed Stephens that Governor wanted to talk to him immediately.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Apprehensively	Worriedly, Anxiously
Rapidly	Quickly

Stephens anxiously picked up the phone. He listened to orders of Governor. These orders were spoken quickly. Governor ordered Stephens to himself accompany McLeery upto main gate of prison.

 

 

The governor further ordered that Stephens should personally ensure to lock door of Evans’s cell after McLeery comes out. Srephens replied that he has understood the orders.

 

 

At 11:25 the governor heard following final communication on his receiver.

 

 

McLeery asks Evans to stop writing. He again asks Evans to put all the papers in correct sequence and to make sure that these are correctly numbered. There is sound of dragging of table and chairs.

 

 

Evans thanks McLeery. McLeery asks Evans about the exam. Evans says it was not very bad. MCleery calls Stephens. The Governor heard the sound of door. The exam was over.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Distinguished himself	Did well

Stephen was walking with McLeery towards the main gate. He asked MCLeery about performance of Evans. McLeery replies that he does not think that Evans has done well in the exam.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Broader	Noticeable
Fostered	Enhanced
Illusion	Wrong or false impression
Slimmer	Thinner

The Scot accent of McLeery was more noticeable than in the morning. His long black overcoat was long enough up to his knees. He appeared thinner than he was in the morning.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Felt pleased	Felt happy
Belated	Late

Stephens was happy that Governor had asked him to see off McLeery upto the gate. He thought that everything happened correctly in the morning. He wanted to directly go to canteen to have a late coffee. But he decided not go there directly.

 

 

Stephen wanted to look at Evans one more time. This feeling was just like a TV serial he had seen. A woman was never sure that before sleeping she had locked main door of her house. She would get up about twenty times in the night to check the lock.

 

 

Stephens once again went to D Wing. He went up to Evans’s cell. He looked through the peephole once again. He shouted Oh no! Christ No!

 

 

Word	Meaning
Sprawled	Lying
Semi-second	Half a second
Closely cropped	Cut short
Tufted	Grouped into bunch
Awash	Wet, Washed
Fierce	Frightful

On the Evans’s chair a man was lying. Just for half a second, Stephens thought it was Evans. A grey blanket was partly on his shoulders and partly on the floor. Because of dark red coloured blood, short hair on front of his head were now in bunches. The blood had reached up to his beard. The blood was now spreading on his white collar and black coat.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Wildly	Loudly, Without any control
Veiled	Covered
Feebly	Weekly
Seep	Dripping, Filtrate
Linen	Cloth

Stephens loudly shouted for Jackson. His words were so loud that it pained ears of McLeery though his ears were covered by blood. With a week hand, McLeery took out a white handkerchief from his pocket. He put it on his bleeding head. The blood started dripping through the white cloth.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Moan	Groan, Sound of pain
Trailed away	Stop gradually
Squelchy	Very wet
Wodge	Piece

McLeery made a sound as if he was in great pain. But his voice gradually stopped. Jackson arrived. He ordered Stephens to inform police and call ambulance. The handkerchief had become a very wet piece of cloth.

 

 

McLeery slowly got up. His face was twisted because of pain. He said not to worry about ambulance. I am all right. I know where he …

 

 

Word	Meaning
Splashed	Dropped, Spread

McLeery closed his eyes. One more drop of blood fell on the floor. And blood spread on the wooden floor just like a raindrop.

 

 

 

He moved his hand on the table. There he found the German exam question paper. He held the paper tightly in his hand. His hand had stains of blood. He asked to call the Governor. I know where Evans is.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Barked	Shouted
Puzzled	Confused
Banged	Shut loudly
Bolted	Locked

Immediately sirens were started. Prison officers started giving orders in loud voice. Prisoners were confused. They stood along wall of corridors. Doors were shut loudly and then locked. Many calls were coming on phones. Every phone of the prison was ringing.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Streaked	Lined
Caked	Deposited
Perplexed	Confused
Grim	Sad

Jackson and Stephens supported McLeery to walk towards yard of the prison. Blood was flowing on the face of McLeery. Lines of blood had formed on his face. Some blood had dried and was deposited on his face. In the yard of the prison, Governor met McLeery. He was confused and sad.

 

 

Governor told that McLeery should be taken to the hospital immediately. McLeery asked if police has been called. Governor said yes. Police is on their way.

 

 

McLeery said that he was all right. In a strange manner, he opened the question paper and put that before Governor. McLeery said if Governor could understand what he was telling.

 

 

The Governor looked at the question paper and understood what McLeery was trying to tell. On the last page of the question paper photocopy of a message was pasted. This work was done carefully and cleverly.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Dredging	Recollecting
Willed	Motivated

McLeery asked Governor to have a look at what was done. His voice gradually stopped. Governor tried to recollect his lessons of German language. He had forgotten most of these. He motivated himself to translate the message from German to English.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Vital	Main, Important
Overdo	Exaggerate

The Governor was not able to read the paper completely. He was able to read – You must follow the plan already … Three minutes before end of the exam are very important. Do not hit him too hard because he is a priest. And do not exaggerate you Scot accent.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Wailed	Long sound or cry
Crescendo	Loudest,
Squealed	Shrill, Shriek

Loud sound of a siren sounding at its loudest was heard. Gates of prison yard were opened. And a  white car of police stopped near them with a jerk and shriek.

 

 

Carter came out of the car. He was a detective. He saluted the Governor. He asked Governor what had happened. Carter looked at McLeery and was surprised to see his condition. Carter asked who had hit Mcleery.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Cut across	Stopped
Lean	To take support
Imprint	Impression, Mark
Crimson	Dark red
Tarnish	Dirty, Not shining

But McLeery stopped any explanation from Governor by speaking first. He said Evans had gone towards Elsfield Way. McLeery was taking long breaths. He took support of the car. On the car impression of his hand was made. The dark red colour stain on the care looked dirty.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Bewilderment	Surprise

Carter was surprised. He looked at the Governor for his guidance. Governor asked Carter to take McLeery with him if Carter thought that his condition was OK. He knows what was happening in the cell. Nobody else knows anything.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Leaped	Moved quickly
Spurt	Movement with a jerk
Gravel	Small pieces of stone

Carter opened the back door of the car. He helped McLeery to get into the car. Very soon the care quickly moved with a jerk. Some gravels on the ground got thrown because of sudden movement of car.

 

 

The Governor recalled that McLeery had talked about Elsfield Way. He again read from the piece of paper – from Elsfield Way go to Headington turn where .. Governor knew that Examination Board was in Elsfield Way. So he thought that somebody from the Examination Board was helping Evans to escape. The question paper had a message photocopied on it, a correction slip was issued.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Scathing	Great, Severe
Contempt	Insult

Now Governor looks at Jackson and Stephens. He told them that there was  need to tell what had happened. Tone of his voice was of great insult to two officers.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Moron	Fool

Governor asked them who among the two fools, took Evans up to the main gate and said good bye to him. [They have assumed that the person who had earlier gone out of prison was Evans. He was dressed as McLeery] Stephens replied that he had done that. He further told he followed instructions of Governor.

 

 

Governor says that he had never told Stephens to do that. Stephens says that Governor ordered him on phone. The Governor asked Stephens at what time he gave that order. His voice was very strong now. Stephens replied that it was at about 11:20 AM

 

 

Word	Meaning
Blithering	Utter, Complete

Governor calls Stephens a complete fool. Governor asks Stephens to understand that he had not called. At that time Governor was trying to contact Examination Board. He was once again unsuccessful in contacting the office.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Despair	Unhappiness, Hopelessness
Skull	Head

Governor was becoming more angry and more unhappy. He looked at the senior officer Jackson. Governor tells Jackson that he does not have brain. His head is empty. He should stop pretending that he has wisdom.

 

 

In evening before the exam, Jackson had searched the cell of Evans. He had spent two hours for this work. He had confidently told Governor that there was nothing hidden in the cell.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Conceal	To hide
Paraphernalia	Other items

But Evans had managed to hide a false beard, spectacles, a collar and remaining other items of a priest. He had also managed to hide some weapon with which he had hit a powerful blow on the head of McLeery.

 

 

A van of the prison stopped near Governor. But he did not get into the van immediately. He again looked at the last line written on the paper. It was written- to the Headington circle, go straight from there and go to Neugraben.

 

 

Word	Meaning
It hit him	He suddenly understood

Neugraben is a German word which means Newgrave. Governor had not heard of this place. He thought can this place be near the town of Reading. The he told himself there was no such place. He thought it could be a code word. He suddenly understood that it meant Newburry. It is quite big place but …

 

 

Word	Meaning
Rapped out	Say loudly and quickly
Step on it	To press accelerator fully, To be very quick

Governor loudly ordered the driver to drive the van to St Aldates Police Station. He asked driver to drive very fast. He asked Jackson and Stephens to go with the van. He further ordered them to contact Mr. Bell. He was the Chief Inspector at the police station.

 

 

Governor jumped three steps of stair in at a time to go to his office. From there he telephoned Bill and told him everything about the incident. Bill assured that he will try to catch Evans.

 

 

Governor sat in his chair and supported his back on the chair. He appreciated the plan made by Evans. He accepts that Evans was very clever.

 

 

But Evans was careless in leaving that paper. Almost all criminals somewhere make a mistake. Because of this reason Mr.Clever Evans will be once again brought back into the prison.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Strident	Loud and harsh
Spotted	Seen
Chased	Followed

The phone on his table suddenly started making loud and harsh sounds of ringing. Carter informed him that McLeery had seen Evans driving a car towards Elsfield Way. He noted number of that car. They chased the car but could not see the car after Headington circle. Probably Evans has come back into the city.

 

 

The Governor just said no. Evans had not come back to city. [He was disappointed]. Governor told Carter that Evans was going towards Newburry. He also explained the reason behind his belief. But he thought that it was job of police to catch Evans.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Good for giggle	Who will be laughed at
Gullible	Inexperienced, Innocent

Governor thought that now people will laugh at him. He will be considered inexperienced. Governor asked Carter if he dropped MacLeery to a hospital.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Groggy	Weak

Crater said yes. McLeeery was at the Radcliffe hospital. By the time we reached Examination Office, he had become very week. So I called an ambulance for him. The Governor called the Radcilffe hospital. He said that he wanted to speak to accident department.

 

 

The hospital confirmed that Governor wanted to know about McLeery. Governor said that McLeery was priest. The hospital said patient with that name is not admitted in their hospital. Governor said the hospital had sent an ambulance to pick McLeery from Elsfield Way.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Vanished	Disappeared

The hospital replied that they had sent an ambulance. But they did not find any person there. They had asked other people there. No one knew about the person. He had disappeared.

 

 

But the Governor was not listening to the phone. He understood the truth. He appeared to get a physical blow on back of his neck.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Gag	To stop from speaking

The Governor sent his staff to the house of McLeery. His house was on Broad Street. They found that McLeery was tied in his study room. A cloth was put on his mouth so that he could not speak. McLeery informed them that at 8:15 AM two men had come to his house. They did this to him.

 

 

In Newbury police enquired throughout the afternoon. But no information could be obtained. By tea-time of the evening, everybody in prison knew that Evans had escaped.

 

 

Evans had not walked out of prison dressed as McLeery. Evans had stayed in the prison dressed as McLeery.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Delicious	Tasty
Stroll	Walk
Have an early night	To sleep early
Wreckage	Remains, Debris
Closely cropped hair	Very short hair

Evans took a walk at the centre of the area called Chipping Norton. Then he ate some fish and chips. Evans wanted to sleep early so he decided to return to his hotel Golden Lion. He was wearing a new hat to hide his remaining short hair. He reached his hotel, went to reception to collect keys of his room.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Regain	Once again achieve

It will take more time for hair to once again grow. But it was not important. Now he was out of prison.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Pinched	Took away
Long and tricky operation	Difficult and time taking work

He had a bad luck when Jackson took away his scissors. In the previous night he had to cut his hair with blade of razor. It was a difficult work and took lot of time.

 

 

Word	Meaning
A close call	Narrow escape

But Evans had some good luck also. If Jackson had forced him to remove his hat, he would have been in a problem. That was really a narrow escape. Evans does not consider Jackson a bad person.

 

 

And putting a beard was the worst thing. Evans had allergy to gum or paste but he had to put the beard. Even now his chin was red and hurting.

 

 

The receptionist was not the same lady when he came to the hotel. Evans thought that new receptionist was more beautiful. He collected his keys with a smile. He told her that he would not have breakfast next morning. He took the newspaper ‘Daily Express’. He asked her to wake him up at 6:45 AM next morning. Evans knew that he will be very busy the next day.

 

 

The stairs of the hotel were wide. He was whistling while walking up the stairs. He had liked the idea of dressing up as a priest with a collar etc.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Jolly good	Very good
Back stud	Button at the back
Panicky moment	Anxious situation
Springing apart	Jumping apart

It was a very good idea that ‘McLeery’ was wearing two collars and two coats when he came in the prison. But the collar was slipping from his neck. There was an anxious moment when ‘McLeery’ had to hold his collar with his hand to prevent it from jumping apart before Stephens could note anything.

 

 

While changing dress, the problem of Stephens coming to see through the door was solved. Evans used to put his pen in mouth when Stephens came near the peep hole.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Fiddling	Changing
Stud	Button
Bargained for	Imagined

But changing clothes under the blanket was very difficult. Particularly the collar that had its button at the back was much more difficult than they had imagined.

 

 

But every other thing had happened quite smoothly. In the car he found everything his friends had promised him. He had soap, water, clothes and map in the car. It was the map of the town. Evans had some good friends. Some of his friends were very clever.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Gorgon	Deity who can turn anybody into stone

Evans opened door of his room, entered and locked the door again. He looked at the bed. He could not move. It seemed to him as if he had seen a Gorgon and he had become a statue of stone.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Not worth	useless
Darted his eyes	Moved his eyes

On the narrow bed of the room, the Governor was sitting. Evans had not expected this. Evans started looking around the room. The Governor told it would be useless to try anything.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Sink in	To understand

Governor told that his men are everywhere in the hotel. (Actually he had only two men, but did not want to tell Evans). He waited for some time so that Evans understood. The Governor told that he also has women police in hotel. The girl with golden hair at the reception is a police women.

 

 

Evans was shocked, it could be seen. He slowly sat down in the chair of the small room. He put his hands on his head. Nobody spoke anything for many minutes. There was complete or total silence.

 

 

Word	Meaning
To mask	To hide

Evans told that probably it was because of the correction slip.[He wants to tell that because of that correction slip he was caught] Governor told that there were people who could understand German. [He was referring to himself. His voice was full of satisfaction because he understood German and had caught Evans]

 

 

Word	Meaning
Ruefully	With sadness or regret

Gradually Evans relaxed. He understood that he was defeated. At last he smiled but he was sad. Evans told it was not a mistake.

 

 

They had not been able to finalise any hotel earlier. So information about hotel had to be given. But we could have done it in some other method.

 

 

Evans says that it was really important to make the phone call just before the exam. Because of that phone everyone moved from the cell for some minutes. So it was important for us to know when exam had started.

 

 

Governor said that like a fool he had given that information so easily. Evans said somebody gave the information. Evans told that the correction slip served two purposes. It also gave me name of the hotel and the exact time exam had started.

 

 

The Governor told Evans that very common words were used. Evans replied it was good that common words were used. That helped him to understand where to go. It was nice name – ‘To the Golden Lion’

 

 

Evans asked Governor how he understood which ‘Golden Lion’ it was. There are many hotels by this name.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Bang in the middle of	Exactly in the middle of

Governor replied that he understood the way Evans understood. If the six digits of two numbers are combined it becomes 313/271. As per the map, this number is of Golden Lion situated in Chipping North.

 

 

Evans agreed that Governor was right. They had hoped that Governor and his team would go toward Newburry. Governor said initially they had gone to that side.

 

 

Governor said that he wanted to ask something. Did Evans understand the German written in the question paper. Governor said he himself could not understand.

 

 

Word	Meaning
To throw a spanner	To divert attention
Muddle	To confuse

Evans replied that he could not understand anything. I could approximately understand what they were asking. But we thought that the exam will divert attention of everybody. It will confuse everybody.

 

 

The Governor stood up from the bed. He asked how Evans got the blood in his cell. The blood he had poured on his head.

 

 

Now Evans looked happy. He said it was a clever idea. How to get some amount of blood into the cell. We were not able to find any method. Because the invigilator will also be checked before he comes into the prison.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Grinned	Smiled
Feebly	Weekly, Slightly

Evans said that Governor could ask about it, but he did not want to tell. Because I may need to use it again. Governor asks if it was brought in the rubber ring for piles. Evans smiled and said it was their clever idea.

 

 

Governor asks if it was a problem to pour blood into the ring. Evans said that was not a problem.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Clotting of blood	Blood becoming solid
Slaughter’s house	Place where animals are killed

Evans said clotting of the blood is a big problem. We got blood very easily. It was blood of pig. We got it from slaughter house in Kidlington.

 

 

But to stop pig’s blood from clotting one needs to mix 10 percent of human blood. And 3.8% of trisodium citrate. Evans asked if Governor knew it.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Reluctant	Unwilling
Admiration	Appreciation

Governor did not want to appreciate but he appreciated through gesture of his head. He said we learn something every day. Then he asked Evans to come with him.

 

 

Evans did not resist or object. Both of them together walked down the stair case. Governor asked Evans how he completed all the planning. I had assured that nobody was coming to meet you. And you did not get any letters.

 

 

Evans replied that he had many friends. Governor asked him to explain. Evans said that the German teacher was one of his friends.

 

 

Governor said but the teacher was from the technical College. Evans told did the Governor check that. He was enjoying the talk now. Governor was surprised and told this was beyond his imagination.

 

 

Evans told that it will always be that way. Governor came near the desk of receptionist and asked her if everything was ready. She replied that the van was standing in front of the hotel. The receptionist and Evans winked at each other. Evans was happy.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Clambered	Climbed

A prison officer came there. He did not speak anything. He put handcuff in hand of Evans. They sat in the back seat of the prison van in a strange method.

 

 

Governor said to Evans that they will meet soon. Governor was very friendly in saying these words to Evans. It was as if Governor was speaking to his old friend after a party.

 

 

Evans replied to Governor to be happy. He told that Governor knew German very well. But does he know any modern language. Governor said no and asked why Evans was asking that question.

 

 

Evans sat comfortably in the back seat of the van, smiled and said ‘nothing’. [Meaning ‘just like that’] Evans said that Governor may need to arrange O level Italian classes in next September.

 

 

Word	Meaning
Ponder	Thought

Governor says that probably Evans will not be in his jail in September. Evans thought about how to reply Governor. He said probably he will not be there. [Evans means to say that he will escape from the jail before next September]

 

 

The prison van turned to right from the Chirping Norton towards the Oxford road. The prison officer who was silent till that time unlocked the handcuff. He leaned forward and told the driver to move fast because very soon they will find out what had happened. [Evans had once again escaped]

 

 

****

Important Links
Evans Tries An O-Level – Textbook Q&A	Evans Tries An O-Level – Extra Q&A
On the Face of It – Explanation	Memories of Childhood – Explanation
On the Face of It – Textbook Q&A	Memories of Childhood – Textbook Q&A
On the Face of It – Extra Q&A	Memories of Childhood – Extra Q&A
Passages	Note Making
Letter Writing	Notice Writing
Advertisement Writing	Article Writing
Report Writing