and yet; despite this; but even so; but even then; however; nevertheless
how many years; how long; what year
female vampire; vampiress
moderate; proper; just right
to hurt; to injure; to harm; to damage; to worry; to bother
still; even now; to this day
joints; points (of a speech)
ghastly; gruesome; appalling; lurid
lever; agent (causing something to happen); instrument; assistant; helper
to fly about; to skip about; to bustle about
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
break in contact; not hearing from; having no communication with
to speak with restraint; to understate; to downplay; to put it mildly; to say the least
verbal message; word (from someone)
to hear; to be told; to know; to receive (order); to undertake; to comply
dealing appropriately (with a situation); taking proper measures; handling (an issue) carefully; making the best of (a bad bargain)
to be completed; to be finished; to be ready (e.g. to serve or eat); to be very drunk
blow; hit (on the body); beating
gradually; slowly but steadily
dizziness (from standing up too fast); orthostatic syncope; lightheadedness; vertigo
to leave (something) undone; to neglect (a duty, task, etc.); to break (a promise, appointment, etc.); to stand (someone) up
civilian clothes; plain clothes; mufti; plainclothes police officer
audience (with a person of high standing)
eagerly (waiting); (waiting) impatiently
enjoyment; pleasure; diversion; anticipation; looking forward to
mistake; error; fault; slip; blunder; omission
climax; peak; zenith; apex
waiting expectantly; waiting eagerly; looking forward to; long-awaited
in flagrante delicto arrest; arrest of somebody in the act of committing a crime
to diminish (dampen) the spirit
to shake; to jolt; to rock (cradle); to swing
jumping straight to the business, ...; I know this is abrupt, but ...; let's skip the pleasantries; getting to the point