secret information; intelligence
activity (of a person, organization, animal, volcano, etc.); action; operation; moving picture
hall; saloon; spacious room; reception room
meeting; conference; session; assembly; council; convention
irony; sarcasm; unexpected; different from what one expected; (only) surface; something superficial
to pull oneself together; to collect oneself (after a failure); to regain control (of oneself)
exhaustion; fatigue; impoverishment; (financial) exhaustion; ruin
to see through; to see into (someone's heart, mind, etc.); to perceive; to find out; to detect
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
whereabouts; what part; how much; what point
telling others; divulging (a secret); revealing; disclosing; letting out
to be temperate in; to refrain; to make notes; to jot down (e.g. phone number); to be in preparation for; to be in waiting for
to probe; to search; to sound out; to investigate
going to war; departure for the front; departure for military service (in response to a draft)
outskirts; environs (of a city); surrounding area; surroundings
to be prolonged; to drag on; to take a long time; to persist; to linger
beforehand; in advance; ahead of time; previously
dissatisfaction; discontent; disapproval; objection; complaint; protest
princess; daughter of a nobleman
being settled quickly; reaching a quick conclusion; no need to say any more; no problem
to do (something) to spite (someone); to rebuke indirectly; to make an insinuation; to make a display of affection (for each other); to show off a relationship
force; unit; corps; squad; troops; party
commander; general; leader
selection (from many people for an important position); exceptional promotion
unnatural; affected; studied; forced
on the contrary; rather; instead; all the more
to be dampened (of the mood, interest, etc.); to be spoiled (e.g. of the atmosphere); to become subdued; to turn white; to fade (to white); to grow light (at dawn)
calmness; composure; coolness; serenity; presence of mind
desktop; desk-top; tabletop; after-dinner speech
reappearance; reemergence; return; reproduction; reenactment; recreation
to project; to show (on a screen); to portray; to depict; to reflect (the times, mood, etc.)
as if; as it were; as though; right then; just then; at that moment
greatest treasure; most valuable asset; pride (of)
diplomacy; selling (e.g. door-to-door); canvassing
important; essential; significant; major; key; principal
unceasing; never-ending; endless
to beat fast (of one's heart); to flutter (with joy, anticipation, etc.); to throb; to pound; to palpitate
inconsequential; indifferent; not worth worrying about; whatever; whichever; I don't care
members; member; constituent