pretext; history; past; according to ...; ... says
of all people; a person of ...'s standing
casual; unconcerned; nonchalant
question; inquiry; enquiry
to give one's name (as); to introduce oneself (as); to claim to be; to call oneself; to reveal oneself (as); to admit to being
outside (e.g. of a building); exterior; outside (of a group, company, etc.); outside world
bluff; false show of power; bold front
in a sense; in some way; to an extent
to betray; to turn traitor to; to double-cross
(Japanese) imperial succession
right (to do something); authority; power
confident; assured; self-assured; bullish (e.g. market)
having to be; must be; should be; ought to be
unqualified; without qualifications
civil war; insurrection; rebellion; domestic conflict
recommendation; endorsement
heir to the throne; successor to the throne
sometimes; at intervals; occasionally; on occasion; from time to time
to seclude oneself; to shut oneself away
to attract interest; to arouse someone's interest
consideration; examination; investigation; study; scrutiny; discussion
profitable plan; good plan
confusion; distraction; derangement
very much; exceedingly; extremely
reasoning; inference; deduction; mystery or detective genre
measure; step; countermeasure; counterplan; countermove; strategy
diversion; appropriation (e.g. of funds); misappropriation; re-use (e.g. old computer parts); recycling
to cross over; to cross; to pass through; to exceed; to surpass; to be more (than)
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
nonsense; silly talk; drivel; rubbish
doubt; question; uncertainty; skepticism; scepticism; suspicion
decision; settlement; definition
with a twitch (e.g. an eyebrow); with a dip; with a bob; with a flutter
royal capital; imperial capital
to throw out; to drop; to toss; to abandon; to neglect; to dismiss
opportunity to show one's abilities; time to show one's stuff; one's province
to resign; to retire; to quit; to leave (one's job, etc.)
(more than) enough; too much; bitterly; extremely; keenly
writing; composition; essay; sentence
in this manner; in this way; like this