The Midnight Visitor           (Robert Arthur)

1. “Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read.” What do secret agents in books and films look like, in your opinion?

Answer: Secret agents in fiction are projected like ideal men, ‘Tall dark and handsome’. They are usually well built and keep have beautiful women for company. They would always smoke pipe or cigar and do death defying stunts. James Bond is a very famous character by Ian Fleming. Movies based on James Bond show hi-tech gizmos which assist the detective in countering villains. There are some exceptions as well. There is a character named Feluda which was created by Satyajit Ray, the famous Bangla Filmmaker. Feluda was typical bhadralok by appearance.

2. How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room? Look back at his detailed description of it. What makes it a convincing story?

Answer: Ausable creates a detailed description of how his office was part a bigger apartment and how the next room had direct connection with the balcony. His statement that somebody else also broke into his office through that balcony made it a convincing story.

3. Looking back at the story, when do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max? Do you think he had worked out his plan in detail right from the beginning? Or did he make up a plan taking advantage of events as they happened?

Answer: Ausable is very clever the way a detective should be. He made the plan to get rid of Max from the very beginning which is evident from the story of the imaginary balcony. He knew the waiter would come to deliver his drinks. He planned carefully to create an imaginary policeman which would have compelled Max to jump on the non-existent balcony.

4) How did Ausable befool Max? or, Describe the meeting between Ausable and max.

or, How did Ausable prove that he was smart and intelligent.

Answer: Ausable did not look smart and intelligent but inwardly he was actually so. Seeing Max with his pistol Ausable did not grow agitated but remained cool. As he knew that the waiter would come, so he waited for the moment. He would convert it to the coming of a police. It was his plan to tell about the imaginary balcony outside the window. He knew that Max would escape through the balcony and would get killed. Accordingly Ausable was successful and proved himself a smart and intelligent secret agent.

5) Ii don’t answer the door , they wil entre anyway. The door is unlocked. And they will not hesitate to shoot. “ explain these words with reference to the context.

Answer:  These words are spoken by Ausable, the secret agent.

                 Switching on the lights of his hotel room, upon his return there in the evening with Fowler, Ausable finds his rival Max half way across the room, aiming an automatic pistol at them. Without a trace of panic, the fat secret agent drops down into a chair nearby only to comment that it was the second time somebody had got into his room through the window by climbing into the balcony from the floor below.

               Max express his ignorance about the balcony and informs Ausable that he has come the report that is scheduled to arrive in his room in half an hour. Just then, there is a knock at the door and the lines referred to are spoken. Ausable knows that the knock is by the hotel waiter. With great present of mind, he take the opportunity to outwit his opponent and ultimately manages to finish him off.

The Hack Driver

1. When the lawyer reached New Mullion, did ‘Bill’ know that he was looking for Lutkins? When do you think Bill came up with his plan for fooling the lawyer?

Answer: Lutkins act of taking the lawyer for a ride clearly indicates that he is a very cunning person. It is his natural behaviour to not disclose his true identity to unknown persons. Moreover, being a cheat as he is it seems his regular practice to dupe people who are newcomers.

2. Lutkins openly takes the lawyer all over the village. How is it that no one lets out the secret? Can you find other such subtle ways in which Lutkins manipulates the tour?

Answer: Lutkin never allows the lawyer to the place where the imaginary Lutkins is supposed to be present at a given time. The way he weaves stories about Lutkin’s vagabond nature and the way he scares the lawyer about Lutkin’s mother are great tools applied by Bill.

3. Why do you think Lutkins’ neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer?

Answer: Lutkin’s neighbours were not anxious to meet a person who could be easily duped. They wanted to enjoy the lawyer’s predicament.

4. After his first day’s experience with the hack driver the lawyer thinks of returning to New Mullion to practise law. Do you think he would have reconsidered this idea after his second visit?

Answer: After his second visit the lawyer must have got the shock of his life that how easily he believed Lutkin. He also got a lesson to deal carefully with people. The image of a village with friendly people must have changed in his mind. So there is least chance of him planning to practice law in that village.

5. Do you think the lawyer was gullible? How could he have avoided being taken for a ride?

Answer: The lawyer seems to be a simpleton and inexperienced person. He has yet to come to grips with the way the bad world functions. He could have done his homework better before going to the village. He could have taken a photograph of Lutkin if available. Before relying on Bill he could have cross checked with other people as well. He could have avoided sending Bill alone to search Lutkin.

EXTRA QUESTIONS

1)         How did Lutkins play the trick on the lawyer?

Ans: The narrator of the “Hack Driver” is a lawyer who came to New Mullion to serve a   summon to Oliver Lutkins. This Lutkins had ignoresd all letters to stand as a witness in a law case. The lawyer started roaming about with the hack driver Bill. Starting from Fritz he met many men one after another who would give him the clue of Lutkins. Bill took him to various places in search of Lutkins but every time the lawyer failed. This was because Bill himself was no other but Lutrkins who had managed the people to tell lies to the lawyer. At last he met Lutkin’s mother who instead of producing Lutkins scared him with an iron rod.

FOOT PRINT WITH OUT FEET

Short questions & answers:

Q1:  Who was Griffin?

Ans:  Griffin was a scientist.

Q2:  Why were the two boys surprised?

Ans;  They were surprised to see the fresh footprints but they could not see anyone.

Q3:  Why did he set the landlord's house on fire?

Ans:  His landlord disliked him and wanted to eject him.

Q.4:  Where did he enter for warmth?

Ans ;  He walked into the big London store for warmth.

Q.5:  What did Griffin do in the shop of a theatrical company?

Ans;   He dressed up, put bandages, false nose and looted some money.

Q.6:  How did he go to the Iping village?

Ans;  He caught a train.

Q.7:  Why did the landlord and his wife surprised to see the scientist' door wide open?

Ans:  Generally he kept his door close.

Q.8:  How did Griffin escape from London store?

Ans-: When two attendants chased him, he threw away his clothes and ran away.

Q.9:  How did Mr. Griffin enter the shop of the theatrical company. What did he do there?             

 Ans- He was invisible so the shopkeeper did not see him. He dressed up, put bandages and false nose.

Q.10:  The Landlord’s wife was convinced that Griffin was an eccentric scientist? What made her think of Griffin in these terms?                               

Ans-  He was alone and wanted no disturbance in his work. In that season people did not come to stay there.

Q.11:  What was the curious episode that took place in the clergy man’s house?      

 Ans- Money was stolen and the chink of money was heard but nobody was seen.

Q.12:  What happened to the constable?    

 Ans- Constable was knocked down by the scientist. He received the blows.

Q.13:  Mention two extraordinary things that happened in the room. 

 Ans-  A hat sprang up from the bed and it hit into the face of Mrs. Hall. The bedroom chair also became alive and it forced Mr. and Mrs. Hall out of the room.

Q.14: Why did the people suspect Griffin for the burglary?   

Ans-  Griffin admitted that he had no money but he produced money just after the incident of burglary.

text book questions & answers

Q.15.  How did the invisible man first become invisible?

Ans.  The invisible man swallowed certain rare drugs and his body became as   transparent as a sheet of glass. The invisible man was a scientist. He carried out numerous experiments to prove that the human body could become invisible.

Q.16. Why was he wandering in the streets?

Ans.  Griffin was a brilliant scientist but a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge Griffin set fire to the house. To get away without being seen he had to remove his clothes. Thus he became a homeless wanderer.

Q.17. Why does Mrs. Hall find the scientist eccentric?

Ans.  Mrs. Hall tried her level best to befriend Griffin. But he had no desire to talk. He told her that he came to Iping for solitude. He did not wish to be disturbed in his work.

Q.18:  What curious episode occurs in the study?

Ans.  A clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in the study very earlyin the morning.  Creeping downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman's desk. He and his wife looked under the desk and behind the curtains, and even up the chimney. There wasn't a sign of anybody. Yet the desk hadbeen opened and the housekeeping money was missing.

Q.19.  What other extraordinary things happen at the inn?

Ans.  The landlord and his wife surprised to see the scientist's door open. Usually it is shut and locked and he becomes furious if anyone enters his room. The opportunity seems too good to be missed. They peep round the door, see nobody and decide to investigate. The bedclothes were cold, showing that the scientist must have been up for some time. All of a sudden Mrs. Hall heard a sniff close to her ear. A moment later the hat on the bed post leapt up and dashed itself into her face. Then the bedroom chair became alive. Springing intothe air it charged straight at her, legs foremost.  As she and her husband turned away in terror, the extraordinary chair pushed them both out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them. Mrs. Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics.  She was convinced thatthe room was haunted by sprits and the stranger had somehow caused these to enter into the furniture.

Q. 20:  "Griffin was rather a lawless person."Comment.

Ans. It is rightly said that Griffin was a lawless person. He was not a law abiding citizen.  A person who follows law and order of the country cannot think of damaging other's property. But Griffin set fire to the house and became a homeless wanderer. He also robbed a shopkeeper of all the money he could find. He stole the housekeeping money from the clergyman's desk. Griffin also attacked Mrs. Hall when she entered his room. All these activities and instances prove that he was really a lawless person.

Q.21:  How would you assess Griffin as a scientist?

Ans.  Griffin had carried out experiment after experiment to prove that the human body could become invisible. He did not want it to do it for the welfare of society but to satisfy his own ego and carry out satanic deeds. He was a brilliant scientist but not a law abiding citizen. A scientist's work is to invent those gadgets and devices which can make the earthly existence comfortable. But Griffin swallowed certain rare drugs and became invisible to torment the innocent people. He was a criminal scientist who had no respect for the humanity.

1)      What is the problem Griffin faces when he becomes invisible? How did he deal with it?

Ans: Despite being invisible, one of the problems Griffin faces is that he can not wear cloths so as to avoid seen. He thus shivers in the January chill. However, an idea strikes him as he enters a store. He waits till it clothes and then helps himself to food, wine and clothes and sleeps on the comfortable quilts. But in the morning, the assistants of the store spot him and he has to make a run for his life, shedding his clothes on the way.he then sneakes into a theatrical costume shop in Drury Lane, wears a large hat, bandages on his face, a false nose and big bushy moustaches. He also attacks the shopkeeper and robs him of his money. He then takes a train to the village of Iping, where he stays in an inn. He tells the landlady, Mrs. Hall that he wishes not to be disturbed. However, his money soon runs out and he then attacks the clergyman and steals his money. Mrs. Hall, suspicious of his behaviour, goes up and finds his cloths on the bed and is then attacked by Griffin who is invisible. They summon the village constable Mr. Jaffers who comes and tries to arrest him. Griffin , however, startles everyone as he takes off him cloths and manages to escape their clutches and then flees.

2)      Who was Griffin? What was his experiment and what was its results?

Answer: Griffin was a scientist.

       He carried out numerous experiments to prove that the human body could become invisible.

       For that he swallowed some rare drugs. His body became transparent like a sheet of glass.  Thus being invisible, one of the problems Griffin faces is that he cannot wear cloths so as to avoid seen. He thus shivers in the January chill.

 

A Question of Trust”

1. Did you begin to suspect, before the end of the story, that the lady was not the person Horace Danby took her to be? If so, at what point did you realise this, and how?

Answer: It is difficult to guess before the story ends. The incidence of the lady calming the dog gives some hint but it is not strong enough. Her statement of getting the safe repaired can make some reader to think but this can be also be a case of fear of a strict husband.

2. What are the subtle ways in which the lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into thinking she is the lady of the house? Why doesn’t Horace suspect that something is wrong?

Answer: Her confident walk, her act of touching up her make-up and the ease with which she picks cigarette from the right place are enough to deceive anybody. Horace was too frightened to think properly so he didn’t suspect anything.

3. “Horace Danby was good and respectable — but not completely honest”. Why do you think this description is apt for Horace? Why can’t he be categorised as a typical thief?

Answer: Danby’s habits were not typical of a thief. He was fond of books. He used to steal only once in a year so he was never stealing more than his needs. Act of theft is still a crime not matter how good a thief behaves, so Danby can’t be termed as completely honest. He is not a regular offender like other thieves so he can’t be categorized as a typical thief.

4. Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?

Answer: Horace Danby failed to get enough information about real occupants of the house. He seems to be too occupied with collecting information about house map, wiring and location of valuable things. Although he was smart enough to know the dog’s actual name but overlooked getting identity of each and every occupants of the house. Once he was in problem then probably his clever mind gave way to carelessness leading him to open the safe without wearing gloves.

5. Do you think Horace Danby was unfairly punished, or that he deserved what he got?

Answer: He deserved what he got. A crime is a crime no matter if it is committed a hundred times or just once.

6. Do intentions justify actions? Would you, like Horace Danby, do something wrong if you thought your ends justified the means? Do you think that there are situations in which it is excusable to act less than honestly?

Answer: “Ends do not justify means”, this is a very old and time tested saying. For own benefit nobody should harm others. But this world doesn’t function on idealism. There are many examples of people duping people for quick gains. These acts should be deplored and dealt with severely.

1)      Give a character-sketch of Horace Danby.

Ans: Horace Danby was an uncommon kind of thief. Everyone thought him to be a good and honest citizen. He was respectable. But he was not completely honest. He loved rare and expensive books. He robbed a safe every year. He planned everything before robbery. But Danby was tricked in by a young and pretty lady. She was a thief like him. She posed to be the wife of the owner. He asked her to let her go. But she made out a story. She asked Horace Danby to take out the jewels from the safe. Horace did so. But the police arrested him for the robbery.

2.      Who was Horace Danby? How did the lady dressed in red play the trick upon him?

Or, Describe how the young and pretty lady tricked Horace Danby.

Or, Describe how Horace Danby was arrested by the police.

Or, Describe how  Horace Danby robbed a safe.

Ans: Horace Danby was a good, honest man of about fifty years. He was good and respectable but not completely honest. He loved rare and expensive books. For this he robbed every year.

          Horace unlocked and entered the house of Shot over Grange to rob the safe containing fifteen thousand pound worth of jewels. Meanwhile a woman young, pretty and dressed in red stood at the doorway. Horace tried to run away. The lady threatened him of calling police. But she took a soft turn of mind. She told that before leaving London she promised her husband to take away her jewels to the bank but they were still in the safe. That night she had a party and she would wear them. But she forgot the number to open the lock. She offered a chance of escape if he could open the lock. Horace did it and escaped. The lady in red was another thief and took away the jewels. Horace was arrested after two days

   Probable Q&A on A Question of Trust

JUNE 21, 2019 / SAZZAD SODIAL.

A QUESTION OF TRUST

Q.1. What does Horace Danby like to collect? Why does he steal every year?

  Ans: Horace Danby likes to collect rare and expensive books.

        He steals every year in order to see him through a year and to buy rare and expensive books through   an agent. For this, he planned carefully and robbed a safe every year.

Q.2. Who is Horace Danby? What kind of person is he? How did he become the Assistant Librarian in the prison?

Ans: Horace Danby is a good and respectable person in public view, but is not completely honest. He is a peculiar thief who robs a safe every year to buy books.

      Horace had served his first sentence in a prison library fifteen years ago. He was tricked by a charming and young lady who was in the same profession. He was caught by the police for robbery at Shot over Grange. At the prison, he was made the Assistant Librarian keeping in view his previous experience in the prison library.

Q.3. Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?

Ans: Horace Danby was a meticulous planner. Each year, he planned carefully just what he would do. Before robbing at Shotover Grange he had studied the house for two weeks, looked at its electric wiring, its paths and its garden. He crossed over the garden wall, carried his bag full of tools and entered the kitchen with the key hung outside. He wore a pair of gloves so that no fingerprint was left. He had already befriended their pet dog “Sherry”. He had even read a magazine article describing the interior of this house. Everything was done meticulously upto this. But when he could not resist sneezing, another thief, who was upstairs, got alarmed. She was a pretty young lady. She quickly understood that he was a thief. But Horace took her for the lady of the house. The lady took this opportunity and tricked him. Horace faltered because he had lesser presence of mind as compared to the lady. He had studied everything minutely except the people living in the house. Besides, he had a faith in the saying,‘honour among thieves’.

Q.4. What are the subtle ways in which the lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into thinking she is the lady of the house? Why doesn’t he suspect that something is wrong?

Ans: Horace Danby could not resist himself from sneezing inside Shot over Grange. Quite interestingly, there was another thief – a pretty young lady – upstairs, who had heard his sneezing. She came downstairs and asked him, “What is it? A cold or a hay fever?” Horace replied without a thought and then saw her. He thought her to be one of the family members. Instead of running away, he thought of avoiding trouble by treating her the right way. The lady was too cunning a thief. She threatened of handing him over to the police. Horace too tried to frighten, but to no effect. She began demoralising him saying, “Society must be protected from men like you”. Horace started begging her again and again to let him go. She agreed on one condition, that Horace must have to open the safe so that she might wear the jewels to a party that night. Horace did the same and went away happily. But on the third day, a policeman arrested him for jewel robbery.

Q.5. “Horace Danby was good and respectable – but not completely honest”. Why do you think this description is apt for Horace? Why can’t he be categorised as a typical thief?

Ans: In public view, Horace Danby was good and respectable. He was about fifty years old and unmarried. He lived with a housekeeper. He ran the decent business of making locks. But, in actuality, he was a thief who stole every year to see him through the year. People thought he was honest, but he was not. So the quoted description is apt for Horace.

     Unlike a typical thief, Horace Danby robbed only once a year. He loved rare, expensive books. So he planned carefully each year to rob a safe in a rich family so that he may survive the whole year and buy b