The Count of Monte Cristo (1844 novel by Alexandre Dumas)
one's younger days; when one was young
belle of society; queen of high society
shape; form; security; collateral; obverse of an old zeni coin
Margrit; Marguerite; Margueritte
dark chocolate (with high cocoa content)
slightly bitter (taste); bittersweet (memory, experience, etc.)
purposely (of something needless, unexpected or seemingly counterproductive, etc.); daringly (doing something); not necessarily; not particularly; (arch.) definitely not
to go astray; to become corrupt; to go bad
to return; to come home; to leave (of a guest, customer, etc.); to get home; to get to home plate
bang; bam; noontime signal gun (carried out early Meiji to Taishō); noon gun; last round in a game of 12 rounds; precisely
without permission; without notice
backing; support; backer; shield that protects one's back
pressure; pressure (e.g. political); arm-twisting
theatre; theater; playhouse
toad (esp. the Japanese toad, Bufo japonicus)
obstruction; hindrance; blocking; disturbance; interference; interruption
supporter; sponsor; patron; backer
to restrict; to limit; to be restricted to; to be limited to; to be best (for); to be the best plan
even so; anyhow; at any rate
having no thought for; having no consideration for; disregarding; overlooking; (arch.) being found not guilty (in an Edo-period court); (arch.) acquittal
bad job; poor workmanship; bungle
helpless; forlorn; hopeless; unpromising; lonely; discouraging
to move forward; to move on
to break into a broad smile; to relax one's face into a smile
clap (sound of wooden clappers); chop vigorously; slight movement (e.g. poke, small bird alighting); the end; originally end of a play, marked by clap of clappers; dot (esp. typographical)
poison fang; sinister ways; crooked means; clutches
to set up (a house, store, etc.); to build; to have at the ready (e.g. a gun); to hold in preparation (e.g. a camera); to adopt a posture; to assume a stance; to put on an air
important matter; matter of great importance; serious affair; major incident; emergency
to save face; to show deference; to make someone look good
preparatory phase; preparatory period
bill; bill of sale; tab (for later payment); credit; attachment; contact play; sound effect produced by striking a wooden board with clappers
interest (on a loan, deposit etc.)