AMBER INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, THANE.

(2023-24)
NOTES

SUB:ENGLISH (Footprint without feet) STD: X

5. A question of Trust
- Robert Arthur

Summary

I. Horace Danby, who ran a business of making locks, had a good

reputation in society. But he was not totally honest.
II. His hobby was collecting rare and expensive books. Horace robbed
one safe every year to finance his costly hobby.
III. Horace had been studying the country house at Shotover Grange,
whose owners normally lived in London, as he wanted to burgle the
jewellery, worth about 15000 pounds, lying in the safe in his house.
IV. Horace entered the house when the servants were away. But Horace
started sneezing because he had an allergy to flowers called hay
fever.
V. Suddenly he heard a young lady’s voice saying that she could cure
him. He than saw her appear in the doorway.
VI. His first thought was to run, as the lady told him that she would
telephone the police. Horace told her to let him go and forget she
ever saw him.
VII. The lady agreed on one condition – he should open the safe for her,
as she had to wear the jewels in the safe for a party the same night,
but she had forgotten the combination to open the safe.
VIII. So Horace opened the safe for her and handed her the jewels to get
his freedom.
IX. After two days Horace was arrested for the jewel robbery at Shotover
Grange. Horace’s fingerprints were found, as he had opened the safe
without using his gloves.
X. When he told the police that the lady of the house had asked him to
open the safe, he was surprised to learn that the actual lady was a 60
year old woman. Horace then realized that the young woman was
also a jewel thief who had used his skill to steal the jewels.
 XI. Horace is now in prison. He understands now that the charming and
clever young lady had simply tricked him.

I. Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.

How foolish people are when they own valuable things, Horace thought. A
magazine article had described this house, giving a plan of all the rooms and a
picture of this room. The writer had even mentioned that the painting hid a safe!
But Horace found that the flowers were hindering him in his work. He buried his
face in his handkerchief. Then he heard a voice say from the doorway, “What is it?
A cold or hay fever?” Before he could think, Horace said, “Hay fever,” and found
himself sneezing again. The voice went on, “You can cure it with a special
treatment, you know, if you find out just what plant gives you the disease. I think
you’d better see a doctor, if you’re serious about your work. I heard you from the
top of the house just now.”

i. According to the extract, Horace was sneezing due to a

(a) sudden allergy
(b) prior infection
(c) long-standing disease
(d) nasal pain
ii. Which magazine could have published the article mentioned in the given
extract?
(a) Paws & Claws
(b) Outdoors & Landscaping
(c) Interiors
(d) The Investor
iii. Choose the image that correctly describes the location of the safe, based on
the given extract.

(a) Option (1)

(b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3)
(d) Option (4)
iv. In the line – Before he could think, Horace said, “Hay fever,” –the response
was
(a) rehearsed.
(b) spontaneous and natural.
(c) hesitant.
(d) rapid and hostile.
v. The line from the extract that can be considered an example of sarcasm is
(a) How foolish people are when they own valuable things.
(b) Horace found that the flowers were hindering him in his work.
(c) You can cure it with a special treatment.
(d) I think you’d better see a doctor, if you’re serious about your work.

Ans. : (i)-(b), (ii)-(c), (iii)-(c), (iv)-(b), (v)-(d)

II. Short Answers

Q1. Describe how Horace Danby planned his work?

Ans. Horace Danby studied the house ai Shotover Grange for two weeks. He
studied its rooms, its electric wiring, its paths and its garden. He was sure that the
family was in London. The two servants had gone to the movies and they would
not come back before four hours. He came out from behind the garden wall and
entered the house.

2. Why does Horace steal every year?

Sol. Horace is a locksmith by profession and is a respectable citizen of society. He has

a passion for rare and expensive books and loves reading them, but he doesn't
have enough money to buy such books. So he steals every year to satisfy his
passion and purchases rare and expensive books.

3.Who is the real culprit in the story "A Question of Trust"?

Sol. The real culprit in the story is the young and pretty lady in red. She introduces
herself as the wife of the owner of the house, while Horace is robbing the safe.
Horace gets deceived by her appearance and mannerism and consequently leaves
his fingerprints on the safe. At the end, he gets arrested.
 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 Horace suspect that
something is wrong?

Sol. The description of the lady made her seem to fit as the lady of the house.
She was nowhere to be seen unless Horace sneezed which must have
caused noise in the silent house. She cleverly manipulated Horace by
saying that she had just arrived and wasn't expecting a thief. She
threatened him that she would call the police if he tried to escape. Such a
call, made Horace nervous and his fear of going to the prison didn't
allow him to suspect her in any case.

I. Long Answers
1. Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong
and why?

Sol .Horace Danby was a meticulous planner as he delved into minute details. Before
executing the robbery, he had collected all the information about the owner and
servants and studied the house carefully. He always planned his work well and was
always alert. The owner of the house was an aged lady of sixty. Just then another
lady in red came and announced that she was the owner of the house. Her
appearance was such that Danby got trapped. When she took a cigarette from a
silver book, Horace took off his gloves and held his lighter towards her. Later, he
forgot to put on the gloves while opening the safe to get the jewels and so, his
fingerprints were found on the safe and he was arrested two days later. He had been
fooled by that young lady.

2. “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 categorized as a typical
thief?
Sol. The author described Horace Danby, a fifty-year-old man, as a good and
respectable man in society who earned well by making locks. He was successful
enough to afford two helpers. However, his riches were not sufficient to fulfil his
desire of having rare and expensive books, which was why he stole once a year.
He can't be categorized as a typical thief because he was not a professional who
earned his bread by robbing people. He did not harm anyone and neither took any
weapon ever. He used to steal some money once a year and purchase rare and
expensive books with the stolen money.