text_original: They were then placed in a ring, and the old man began muttering some words and shuffling his cards, when three loud knocks were heard at the door. The sounds appeared to proceed from the staircase.
text_transcription: THEY WERE THEN PLACED IN A RING AND THE OLD MAN BEGAN MUTTERING SOME WORDS AND SHUFFLING HIS CARDS WHEN THREE LOUD KNOCKS WERE HEARD AT THE DOOR THE SOUNDS APPEARED TO PROCEED FROM THE STAIRCASE
phonemes: ðeɪ wɜː ðˈɛn plˈeɪst ɪn ɐ ɹˈɪŋ, ænd ðɪ ˈoʊld mˈæn bɪɡˈæn mˈʌɾɚɹɪŋ sˌʌm wˈɜːdz ænd ʃˈʌflɪŋ hɪz kˈɑːɹdz, wˌɛn θɹˈiː lˈaʊd nˈɑːks wɜː hˈɜːd æt ðə dˈɔːɹ. ðə sˈaʊndz ɐpˈɪɹd tə pɹəsˈiːd fɹʌmðə stˈɛɹkeɪs.