Welcome to our extra questions guide on Chapter- 4. We have everything you need. Want a summary? We have that and even a summary example. We also have multiple choice questions, or MCQs. Hard words in the chapter. We explain difficult words in English too. You’ll get an introduction in English to start you off. We offer both long and short question answer in English. We also give you a personality sketch of the author. Want to dive into themes? We have that. We even have a comprehension passage with question and answer. Get ready to learn this chapter well!
Extra Questions, Notes, Assignment and study material for Class 10th as Per Latest CBSE Syllabus
Chapter- 4 English Languages and Literature- Footprints Without Feet
A Question of Trust Extra Question Answer English
About the Author- Victor Canning – A Question of Trust
Learn more about the author Victor Canning, as we delve into his background and contributions to better appreciate the context of the chapter ” A Question of Trust Class 10.”
Victor Canning was a famous English writer of novels and thrillers. His thrillers are famous for their romance, mystery and unexpected and highly thrilling endings. In 1965, he began a series of four books that featured a private detective named Rex Carver.
Introduction of the lesson- A Question of Trust
Following is the introduction English text for Chapter ‘ A Question of Trust Class 10,’ aimed to give you a clear grasp of its main ideas.”
This is a story of two burglars who want to rob the same safe. The name of the first burglar is Horace Danby He goes to rob a safe. There he meets a young lady who pretends herself to be the wife of the owner of the house. But in reality, she is also a burglar.
Horace opens the safe for her. He leaves his fingerprints all over the room. The lady enjoys jewels and Horace Danby is arrested by the police. He gets a term in prison. Now he is the assistant librarian in prison.
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Theme of the Lesson- A Question of Trust
Explore the theme as well as the theme background of the chapter ‘ A Question of Trust Class 10′ to gain a richer understanding of the underlying messages and ideas presented in the chapter
‘A Question of Trust’ is based on the robbery committed in a house at Shot over Grange. Two professional thieves and burglars come face to face while on the same mission of robbing a safe in the house. Both of them made elaborate preparations to make the theft a complete success. Horace Danby robbed a safe every year only to buy rare and expensive books. He was caught red-handed by a lady in red. The young lady in red was also a thief but she presented herself as the lady of the house. Horace, in confusion, requested her to go away. She threatened to call the police. At last, a compromise was reached. The cost of Horace’s freedom was settled. He was to open the safe and hand over the jewels to her. Horace thought that he was opening the safe for the lady of the house. He handed the jewels over to her and went out happily. He had forgotten to wear his gloves and left his fingerprints on the safe. After two days, Horace was arrested on the basis of those fingerprints left on the safe. A grey-haired sixty years old lady, the wife of the owner of the house stated that Horace’s story was nonsense.
Important Word-Meanings of difficult words from the lesson- A Question of Trust
[PAGE 20]: Citizen = inhabitant (नागरिक ) usually = often (प्राया); except = leaving aside (सिवाय ); Rare = uncommon (दुर्लभ ) expensive = costly (कीमती ); rob = to plunder (लूटना ); safe = an iron almirah (तिजोरी ); hay fever = a summer ailment (जुकाम , गर्मी का बुखार ); secretly = without any body’s knowledge (गुप्त रूप से ); agent = who works for some agency (अभिकर्ता ); bright = shining (चमकदार ); remained = stayed (ठहरा ); movie = film (फिल्म ); in spite of = in addition to (के वाबजूद ); tickle = light touch (हल्का सा प्रकोप ); worth = value (मूल्य )
[PAGE 21]: Gloves = covering for the hand (दस्ताने ); fingerprints = signs of fingers (उंगलियों के निसान ); stirred = moved (हिला ); quiet = silent (शांत ); wondered = surprised (हैरान ); tools = instruments (औजार ); burglar = thief (लुटेरा /चोर ,सेंधमार ); described = gave full account (पूर्ण विवरण दिया ); mentioned = spoken about (उल्लेख किया ); hindering =obstructing (रोकते हुए ); treatment = cure (उपचार ); disease = ailment (बीमारी )
[PAGE 22]: Kindly = polite; fireplace = hearth; firmness = steadiness; straightened = unfold ornaments = jewellery; however = anyhow; expect = hope; amused = pleased; nodded = made a sign with the head; inconvenience = uneasiness
[PAGE 23]: Hesitated = to be doubtful ; seriously = gravely ; hurt = strike; paused = stopped ; frighten = afraid ; sharp = fast ; protected = guarded ; threatens = to attempt to menance ; prison = jail; persuaded = convinced ; desperate = in despair ; promise = assurance; watching = seeing ; closely = nearly; picked up = lifted; took off = removed; replied =answered; mended = repaired
[PAGE 24]: Arrested = caught; nonsense = meaningless; charming = attractive; profession = business ; tricked = deceived; honour = respect
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Summary of the Lesson in English- A Question of Trust
Take a look at the following summary example to better understand the chapter ” A Question of Trust,” crafted through careful summary writing.
Horace Danby was a good man. He was about fifty years old but he was unmarried. He was a locksmith. He was very successful in his business. He had engaged two assistants to help him. Being good and respectable, he was not completely honest.
He loved rare and expensive books. He bought them at any cost. For this purpose, he robbed a safe in one year. He bought these books secretly through an agent.
Before making a theft, he planned his work well. This time he had studied the house at Shotover Grange for two weeks. He studied even the minutest thing about the house. The family was in London. The two servants who looked after the house had gone to the movies. He came out from behind the garden wall and entered the house.
He took the key from the kitchen door hook. He put on a pair of gloves and opened the door. He was always careful enough to leave any fingerprints. He spoke politely to the little dog. He cut-off the wires of the burglar alarm. He arranged his tools carefully.
There was a big pot of flowers on the table. The scent of flowers tickled his nose. He sneezed repeatedly. He thought that this disease would hinder his work. He buried his face in his handkerchief.
Then, he heard the voice of a young lady behind him. She spoke kindly to him. She pretended to be the wife of the owner of that house. She said that she had come there suddenly because she needed her jewels to wear them at the party that night.
Danby begged the lady to let him go home. He hated going to prison. He promised her that he would never rob again in his life. The young lady asked him to do one work for her, then she would let him go. The burglar said that he would do anything gladly for her.
The young lady said that she needed The jewels but she had forgotten the number. She asked him to open the safe. Danby opened the safe without gloves. The young lady got the jewels and Horace Danby went away happy because he had escaped from a difficult situation.
For two days, Horace kept his promise to the young lady. But on the third day, he decided to rob some other safe. But he never got the chance to put his plan into practice. By noon a policeman had arrested him for the jewel robbery at Shotover Grange.
His fingerprints were found all over the room. He admitted that he had opened the safe for the young wife of the owner of the house. But the owner’s wife was about sixty years old. She said that the story was nonsense. No one believed Danby. He was sent to jail. Now he was the assistant librarian in the prison. He often thought of the charming, young lady who was in the same profession as he was. Now he did not like the thought of ‘honour among thieves.’
Summary of the Lesson in English- A Question of Trust (2) :-
1.Not Completely Honest: Horace Danby was fifty years old and unmarried. He made locks and the business was not bad. He was usually very well except for attacks of hay fever in summer. Everyone thought Horace was good, honest and respectable. But he was not completely honest.
2. Robbed a Safe Every Year: Horace Danby had a passion for rare and expensive books. For that, he needed extra money. He used to rob a safe every year to carry forward his costly hobby. With the money he got from robbing, he secretly bought the books he loved through an agent.
3. Careful Planning of Robberies: Horace Danby never acted in haste. Every robbery was planned thoroughly. All his previous robberies were completely successful. He felt sure that his latest robbery at Shotover Grange would be as successful as the others. He had been studying the house, its rooms, electrical wiring, paths and its gardens for two weeks. He knew that the two servants at the Grange had gone out to the movies. He found out from an article in a magazine where the safe was. He had seen the housekeeper hang the key to the kitchen door.
4. Encounters Lady in Red: Horace Danby came out from behind the garden wall. He had packed his tools carefully in the bag. The small dog saw him and started barking. He knew how to keep dogs quiet. He called by its right name ‘Sherry’ and the dog became friendly. He knew that there was fifteen thousand pounds’ worth of jewels in the safe. He could easily get five thousand which sum was enough to make him happy for a year. It was not a difficult job for him to open the safe. He had lived with locks and safes all his life. He went to the drawing room to open the safe. The safe was there. He felt his nose tickle. He started sneezing. Suddenly, he heard a female voice. She advised him to cure his hay fever with special treatment. He found a young, pretty woman dressed in red standing there.
5. Horace Mistook the Lady in Red for the Lady of the House: The lady in red behaved and acted with an air of confidence and authority. She told Horace that she didn’t expect a burglar in her house. She also threatened to call the police if he tried to run away. Society must be protected from burglars like him. Horace told her that he robbed only those who had a lot of money. He promised her not to do such a thing again. He requested her to let him go out. All along with these proceedings, Horace Danby had been mistaking her as the lady of the house.
6. The Lady in Red Makes Horace Open the Safe: Horace told her that he was desperate and she must let him go away. He hated the thought of prison. The lady exploited Horace’s confusion and fear. She asked him to make a compromise. He must open the safe for her. She needed the jewels for the night party. Only then, she would allow him to go out of the house. Horace opened the safe and handed over the jewels to the young lady. He went out happily.
7. Horace Arrested; Left Fingerprints: On the noon of the third day, a policeman arrested Horace. He was arrested for the jewel robbery at Shotover Grange. He was arrested on the basis of his fingerprints left on the safe. He had open the safe without wearing his gloves. Horace pleaded that the lady of the house herself had asked him to open the safe for her. Then, the real lady of the house appeared. She was a grey-haired, sharp-tongued woman of sixty. She stated that Horace’s story was nonsense. The young lady in red decamped with the jewels while Horace was sent to prison. The lady in red was the real culprit and a burglar. She outwitted and outmanoeuvred Horace Danby completely.
Main Points of the Story – A Question of Trust
- Horace Danby was fifty years old and unmarried.
- He was usually very well except for attacks of hay fever in summer.
- He made locks and was successful in his business.
- He robbed a safe every year.
- With that money, he bought rare and costly books.
- Horace Danby always made a lot of preparations before committing a theft.
- He made detailed preparations before committing his latest theft in a house at Shotover Grange.
- He studied the house, rooms, electric wiring, paths and gardens carefully.
- He noted that the two servants were out to movies and saw the housekeeper hang the key to the kitchen door.
- He was caught red-handed when a young lady in red appeared on the scene.
- The lady in red played the role of the lady of the house in a very confident and convincing way.
- The lady acted with so much ease, confidence and authority that Horace mistook her as the lady of the house.
- The lady threatened to call the police if he tried to run away from there.
- The lady in red allowed Horace to go out on one condition.
- She made Horace open the safe.
- Horace thought he was opening the safe for the owner and forgot to wear his gloves.
- Horace handed over all the jewels to her and went away happily.
- After two days, Horace was arrested by the police for committing a theft in a house at Shotover Grange, on the basis of the fingerprints found on the safe.
- Horace pleaded that the wife of the owner of the house had asked him to open the safe for her.
- The real lady of the house, a grey-haired sixty-year-old woman stated that the story of Horace was nonsense.
- Only, in the end, it became clear that the real culprit was the lady in red, who was a thief and burglar like Horace.
Summary in Hindi – A Question of Trust- Full Text
Here is the Hindi story summary of the chapter ” A Question of Trust Class 10,” designed to give you a clear understanding of its essential ideas in Hindi.
[PAGE 20]: सभी सोचते थे कि होरेश डेवी एक अच्छा , ईमानदार नागरिक था बह लगभग पचास वर्ष का और अविभाहित था और बह एक चौकीदार के साथ रहता था जो उसके स्वास्थ्य के वारे में चिंतित रहता था वास्तव में , बह गर्मी के बुखार (जुकाम ) से पीड़ित होने के अतिरिक्त प्रायः स्वस्थ और प्रसन्न रहता था बह ताले बनाता था और अपने व्यवसाय में काफी सफल था और उसके दो सहायक रखे हुए थे हां , होरेंस डैवी एक अच्छा और सम्मानित व्यक्ति था लेकिन बह पूर्ण रूप से ईंमानदार नहीं था
पंद्रह वर्ष पहले बह एक काराबास पुस्तकालय में अपनी पहली और इकलौती सजा काट चुका था होरेस को दुर्लभ और कीमती पुस्तकों से प्यार था इसलिए बह हर वर्ष एक तिजोरी लूटता था प्रत्येक वर्ष बह उसकी साबधानीपूर्वक योजना बनाया करता था , जो उसे करना होता था , इतना धन चुराया करता था जो पूरे एक वर्ष तक चल सकता था और एक अभिकर्ता के माध्यम से अपनी मनपसंद पुस्तके चुपचाप खरीद लिया करता था
जुलाई महीने की चमचमाती धूप में घूमते हुए उसे इस बात का पक्का यकीन हो गया कि इस बार की चोरी भी अन्य चोरियों की तरह उतनी ही सफल रहेगी बह शोटोवर ग्रेज बाले घर का दो सप्ताह से अध्ययन कर रहा था उसके कमरों , बिजली की तारो , रास्तो और बाग को देख रहा था उस दिन दोपहर बाद दोनों नौकर , जो ग्रेज में रहते थे जबकि परिवार लन्दन में रहता था फिल्म देखने जा चुके थे होरेस ने उसे जाते हुए देखा और नाक में गर्मी के ज्वर (जुकाम ) का कुछ असर होने के बावजूद भी बह प्रसन्न हो रहा था बाग़ की दीवार के पीछे से बाहर आया उसके औजार उसकी पीठ के पीछे एक थैले में सावधानीपूर्वक बंधे हुए थे
ग्रेज की तिजोरी में लगभग पंद्रह हजार पोंड की कीमत के आभूषड़ थे यदि बह उन्हें एक – एक करके बेचता तो उसे पांच हजार पोंड प्राप्त होने की आशा थी जो उसे एक वर्ष तक प्रसन्न रखने के लिए पर्याप्त थे
[PAGE 21] : पतझड़ के मौसम में बिक्री के लिए तीन बहुत ही रोचक पुस्तकें आ रही थी अब उसे धन प्राप्त हो जायेगा जिससे बह मनचाही पुस्तकें खरीद सके
उसने चौकीदार को बाहर रसोई के दरवाजे के ऊपर खूटी पर चाबी को टांगते हुए देख लिया था उसने दस्ताने पहने , चाबी ली और दरवाजा खोला बह हमेशा सावधान रहता था कि कहीं उंगलियों के निशान न पढ़ जाय
रसोईघर में एक छोटा कुत्ता लेटा हुआ था बह हिला , और शोर किया और मैत्रीपूर्ण ढंग से अपनी पूछ हिलाई
जब होरेस उसके पास से गुजरा तो उसने कहा , ” शैरी , ठीक है ” कुत्तो को शांत रखने के लिए आपको उनके सही नामो को पुकारना होता है और उनके प्रति प्यार दिखाना होता है
तिजोरी बैठक कछ में , एक घटिया सी पेंटिंग (चित्रकारी ) के पीछे थी होरेस एक पल के लिए हैरान हुआ कि क्या उसे पुस्तकों के स्थान पर चित्रों का संग्रह करना चाहिए लेकिन बह बहुत स्थान लेती थी एक छोटे –से घर में तो पुस्तके ही सही थी
मेज पर फूलो का एक बहुत बढ़ा गुलदस्ता था और होरेस को अपनी नाक में कुछ परेशानी सी महसूस हुई उसने हलकी सी छींक मारी और तब अपना थैला नीचे रख दिया उसने सावधानीपूर्वक अपने औजारों को क्रमबद्द किया नोकरो के लौटने से पहले उसके पास चार घंटे का समय था
तिजोरी खोलना कोई कठिन कार्य नहीं था क्योकि उसने अपना सारा जीवन तालो और तिजोरियों के बीच गुजारा था चोर घंटी बहुत घटिआ बनी थी बह उसकी तारे काटने के लिए हॉल में गया बह बापस आया और जोर –से छींक मारी जब फूलो की सुगंध पुनः उस तक पहुंची
होरेस ने सोचा , जब लोगो के पास मूल्यवान वस्तुंए होती है बे कितनी मूर्खता करते है पत्रिका के एक लेख में इस मकान का वणर्न किया गया था जिसमे सभी कमरों की योजना और इस कमरे का चित्र दिया गया था लेखक ने तो इस बात का भी उल्लेख कर दिया था कि तस्वीर के पीछे एक तिजोरी छुपी हुई है
लेकिन होरेस ने पाया कि फूल उसके काम में रुकावट पैदा कर रहे थे उसने अपना चेहरा रुमाल से ढक लिया
तब उसने गलियारे में यह कहती हुई आवाज सुनी , ” यह क्या है ? जुकाम या गर्मी का बुखार ?”
इससे पहले कि बह सोच सकता , होरेस ने कहा ,” गर्मी का बुखार ” और अपने आपको पुनः छीकते हुए पाया
उस आवाज ने कहा , ” आप एक विशेष विधि द्वारा इसका इलाज कर सकते हो , आपको पता है , यदि आप पता लगा ले कि आपको ये बीमारी किस पौधे से होती है मै सोचती हूँ आपको डॉक्टर से मिलना अधिक ठीक रहेगा , यदि आप अपने काम (चोरी ) के प्रति गंभीर हो मैंने आपकी आवाज़ को अभी –अभी घर की छत पर सुना था
[PAGE 22] : यह एक शांत और दयालुता भरी आवाज़ थी , लेकिन इसमें एक दरणरता थी गलियारे में एक महिला खड़ी थी , और शैरी उसके शरीर से अपना शरीर रगड़ रहा था बह युवा और अत्यधिक सुंदर थी और उसने लाल रंग के वस्त्र पहन रखे थे बह चलकर अंगीठी तक आयी और बहां पर जेवर फैला दिए
“लेट जाओ , शैरी ” बह बोली , ” सभी समझ जायगें कि मै एक महीने से बाहर गयी हुई थी ” बह होरेस की ओर देखकर मुस्कुराई और अपनी बात जारी रखी ” फिर भी , मै ठीक समय पर आ गयी यद्दपि मैंने आतें ही चोर से मिलने की आशा नहीं की थी “
होरेश को कुछ आशा थी क्योकि बह उससे मिलकर प्रसन्न लग रही थी यदि बह उसके साथ ठीक ढंग से व्यवहार करे तो बह संकट से बच सकता था उसने उत्तर दिया , ” मैंने भी घर के किसी सदस्य के मिलने की आशा नहीं की थी “
उसने सिर हिलाया , ” मै देख रही हूँ कि आपको मुझसे मिलकर क्या परेशानी हुई है आप क्या करने जा रहे हो ?”
होरेश ने कहा , ” मेरा पहला विचार तो भाग जाने का था “
“निःसंदेह , तुम ऐसा कर सकते थे लेकिन मै पुलिस को टेलीफोन करके सब कुछ बता देती बे तुम्हें तुरंत काबू कर लेते “
[PAGE 23] : होरेश ने कहा , ” मै सबसे पहले टेलीफ़ोन की तारें काट देता और तब ………” बह थोड़ा हिचकिचाया , उसके चेहरे पर एक मुस्कान आयी , “मै इस बात को यकीन (निष्चित ) करता कि तुम कुछ समय के लिए तो कुछ भी न कर सकती मेरे लिए कुछ ही घंटे पर्याप्त होतें “
उसने उसकी ओर गम्भीरतापूर्वक देखा ” तुम मुझे चोट पहुँचातें “
होरेश थोड़ी देर चुप रहा और तब कहा , ” मै सोचता हूँ जब मैंने ऐसा कहा तो मै तुम्हें डराने का प्रयास कर रहा था “
“तुमने मुझे डराया नहीं ”
होरेश ने सुझाव दिया ,” यह बहुत बढ़िया रहेगा यदि आप इस बात तो भूल जाय कि आपने मुझे कहीं देखा था मुझे जाने दो “
उसकी आवाज़ एकदम पैनी हो गयी ” मैं क्यों जाने दूँ ? तुम मुझे लूटने जा रहे थे यदि मैं तुम्हे जाने दूँ तो तुम किसी और को ठग लोगे समाज की तुम्हारे जैसे लोगो से रच्छा की जानी चाहिए “
होरेस मुस्कुराया , “मैं उस प्रकार का व्यक्ति नहीं हूँ जो समाज के लिए खतरा होता है मैं केवल उन लोगो के यहां चोरी करता हूँ जिनके पास बहुत सारा पैसा होता है मैं एक बहुत अच्छे काम के लिए चोरी करता हूँ और मैं जेल जाने के विचार से घ्रणा करता हूँ “
बह हस पढ़ी और उसने (होरेस ने ) यह सोचते हुए याचना की कि उसने उसे मना लिया है , ” देखो , मेरा आपसे कुछ भी मांगने का कोई अधिकार नहीं है , लेकिन मैं परेशान हूँ मुझे जाने दो और मैं वचन देता हूँ कि कभी भी इस प्रकार का काम नहीं करूंगा यह मेरा वास्तविक अभिप्राय है “
बह शांत थी , उसे निकटता से निहार रही थी तब उसने कहा , ” तुम वास्तव में जेल जाने से डर रहे हो , क्या तुम डर नहीं रहे हो ? ”
बह अपना सिर हिलाते हुए उस तक आ गयी , ” मैंने हमेशा गलत प्रकार के लोगो को पसंद किया है “
उसने मेज के ऊपर से एक चाँदी का डिब्बा उठाया और उसमे से एक सिगरेट बाहर निकाली होरेस ने , उसे प्रसन्न करने के लिए उत्सुक होते हुए और यह देखते हुए कि बह उसकी मदद करेगी , अपने दस्ताने उतारे और उसे अपना सिगरेट लाइटर दे दिया
” आप मुझे जाने दोगी ? ” उसने लाइटर उसकी ओर किया
” हां , परन्तु केवल तब जब तुम मेरे लिए कुछ करोगे “
” कुछ भी जो आप कहें “
” हमारे लंदन जाने से पहले , मैंने अपने पति को वचन दिया था कि मेरे सारे आभुसड़ो को बैंक में डाल देना , लेकिन मैंने उन्हें यहीं तिजोरी में छोड़ दिया था मैं आज रात उन्हें एक पार्टी में पहनना चाहती हूँ इसलिए मैं उन्हें लेने नीचे आयी थी , परन्तु ……. “
होरेश मुस्कुराया , ” आप तिजोरी खोलने का नंबर (संख्या ) भूल गयी यही बात है न ? “
” हाँ ” ,युवा महिला ने उत्तर दिया
” यह काम मेरे ऊपर छोड़ दो और वे तुम्हें एक घंटे के अंदर मिल जायेगें लेकिन मुझे आपकी तिजोरी तोड़नी पड़ेगी “
” उसके बारे में चिंता मत करो मेरे पति एक महीने तक यहां नहीं लौटेगें और उस समय तक मैं तिजोरी की मुरम्मत करवा लूंगी “
और एक घंटे के अंदर –अंदर होरेस ने तिजोरी खोल दी उसे आभुसड़ दे दिए और ख़ुशी –ख़ुशी बाहर चला गया
दो दिन तक उसने उस दयालु महिला से किया अपना वायदा निभाया तीसरे दिन की सुवह , हालांकि , उसने उन पुस्तकों के वारे में सोचा जो उसे चाहिए थी और बह जानता था कि उसे दूसरी तिजोरी की तलाश करनी होगी लेकिन उसे अपनी योजना आरम्भ करने का कभी अवसर नहीं मिला दोपहर तक एक सिपाही उसे शोटोवर ग्रेज़ में चोरी करने के अपराध में गिरफ्तार कर चुका था
उसकी उंगलियों के निशान सारे कमरे में थे क्योकि उसने विना दस्तानो के तिजोरी खोली थी और किसी ने भी उसकी बात पर विस्वाश नहीं किया जब उसने कहा कि उस घर के मालिक की पत्नी ने उसे अपने लिए तिजोरी खोलने के लिए कहा था मकान मालिक की पत्नी , जो सफेद बालो और पैनी जुबान बाली लगभग साठ वर्षीय महिला थी , ने कहा कि यह सब कुछ वकबास है
अब होरेस जेल में सहायक पुस्तकलयाध्यछ है बह प्रायः उस आकर्षक , चतुर युवा महिला के बारे में सोचता रहता है जो उसी धंधे में थी जिसमे कि बह था और जिसने उसे धोखा दिया उसे बहुत अधिक गुस्सा आ जाता है जब कोई भी ‘चोरो के अंदर बफादारी ‘ की बात करता है
Detailed Summary in Hindi – A Question of Trust
होरेंस डैवी एक अच्छा आदमी था बह लगभग पचास वर्ष का लेकिन अबिभाभीत था बह ताले बनाने का काम करता था बह अपने व्यवसाय में बहुत सफल था उसने अपने मदद के लिए दो सहायक रखे हुए थे अच्छा और सम्मानित व्यक्ति होते हुए भी बह पूर्णतया ईमानदार नहीं था
बह दुर्लभ और कीमती पुस्तकों से प्यार करता था बह उन्हें किसी भी कीमत पर खरीद लेता था इस उद्देस्य के लिए बह वर्ष में एक तिजोरी लूटता था बह एक एजेंट के माध्यम से इन पुस्तकों को गुप्त रूप से खरीद लेता था
चोरी करने से पहले बह अपने काम की अच्छी तरह से योजना बनाता था इस बार उसने शोटोबर ग्रेज में मकान का दो सप्ताह तक अध्धयन किया उसने घर के बारे में छोटी से छोटी चीज तक का अध्ययन किया बह परिवार लन्दन में था दो नौकर , जो घर की देखभाल करते थे फिल्म देखने जा चुके थे बह बाग़ की दीवार के पीछे से बाहर निकला और घर में घुस गया
उसने रसोई के दरवाजे की हुक से चावी उतारी उसने दस्ताने पहने और दरवाजा खोल लिया बह हमेशा सावधान रहता था कि कहीं उंगलियों के निशान न रह जाय बह छोटे कुत्ते के साथ बढ़े प्यार से बोला उसने चोर -घंटी की तारो को काट दिया उसने अपने औजारों को सावधानीपूर्वक क्रमबद्ध किया
मेज पर फूलो का एक बढ़ा गुलदस्ता रखा हुआ था फूलो की सुगंध ने उसकी नाक में थोड़ी -सी परेशानी पैदा की बह बार -बार छीके मार रहा था उसने सोचा कि इस बीमारी (फूलो ) के कारण उसके काम में बाधा पैदा होगी उसने अपने चेहरे को रूमाल से छुपा लिया
तब उसने अपने पीछे से एक युवा महिला की आवाज सुनी बह उसके साथ दयालुतापूर्वक बोली उसने स्वम को उस घर के मालिक की पत्नी के रूप में प्रस्तुत (दिखावा ) किया उसने कहा कि बह बहां अचानक जेवरों को लेने आयी थी क्योकि उसे उस रात पार्टी में पहनने के लिए उनकी आवश्यकता थी
डैवी ने उस महिला से उसे घर जाने देने की याचना की बह जेल जाने से घ्रणरना करता था उसने उससे वायदा किया कि बह जीवन में कभी दोवारा चोरी नहीं करेगा युवा महिला ने उससे कहा कि पहले बह उसके लिए एक काम करेगा और तब बह उसे जाने देगी चोर ने कहा कि बह प्रसन्तापूर्वक उसके लिए कुछ भी करने के लिए तैयार है
युवा महिला ने कहा कि उसे जेवरों की आवश्यकता है परन्तु बह तिजोरी खोलने के नंबर भूल गयी है उसने उसे तिजोरी खोलने के लिए कहा डैवी ने बिना दस्ताने के तिजोरी खोल दी युवा महिला को जेवर प्राप्त हो गए और डैवी ख़ुशी -ख़ुशी चला गया क्योकि बह एक कठिन परिस्तिथि से बच चुका था
दो दिन तक हारेंस ने उस युवा महिला के साथ किये गए अपने वायदे को निभाया लेकिन तीसरे दिन उसने किसी और तिजोरी को लूटने का निर्णय किया लेकिन उसे अपनी योजना को अमल में लाने का कभी भी अवसर प्राप्त नहीं हुआ दोपहर तक एक सिपाही ने शोटोवर ग्रेज में आभुसड़ो की चोरी के आरोप में उसे गिरफ्तार कर लिया था
सारे कमरे में उसकी उंगलिओ के निशान पाय गए उसने कहा कि उसने तिजोरी मकान मालिक की युवा पत्नी के लिए खोली थी लेकिन मकान मालिक की पत्नी साठ वर्षीय वृद्धा थी उसने कहा कि यह कहानी बकबास है किसी ने भी डैवी की बात पर विस्वास नहीं किया उसे जेल भेज दिया गया अब बह जेल में सहायक पुस्तकालयाध्यछ था बह हमेशा उस आकर्षक , युवा महिला के वारे में सोचता रहता था जो कि उसी पेशे में थी जिसमे कि बह था अब बह ‘चोरो के बीच बफादारी ‘ के विचार को पसंद नहीं करता था
Main Characters of the Story- A Question of Trust
1 Horace Danby: Horace Danby was about fifty years old and unmarried. Everyone thought him a good and honest citizen. He was otherwise very well and happy except for attacks of hay fever in summer. He made locks and was fairly successful at his business. Horace Danby was good and respectable but not completely honest. He used to rob a safe every year. He used to do so because he needed money to buy books. He had a passion for buying rare and costly books. He would rob only the rich person. He never hurt anyone and carried no weapon with him. He was not very aggressive and didn’t want to go to prison.
2. The Lady in Red: The lady in red is gifted with a rare personality. She is full of confidence. She acts like a perfect actress presenting herself as the lady of the house. Even the dog was rubbing against her in a friendly manner. In a very subtle way, she told Horace that she wanted to wear the jewels in the safe to a party that night. She made him open the safe without gloves. Horace willingly hands over the jewels and she decamps with them.
Enrich Your Vocabulary from the Lesson – A Question of Trust
PAGE 20
Hay fever— a kind of Sentence—punishment, Rare—extraordinary Expensive—costly, Safe—a strong metal box with a lock, Tickle—light sensation, Worth—value,
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Bowl– (here) flower pot, Sneeze— to have the air come suddenly and noisily out through your nose and mouth Own— have, Valuable- costly, Mentioned— described, Went on— continued, Treatment- cure,
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Firmness- strength, Straightened- made straight, Burglar- one who breaks into a house, Amused– (here) pleased, Treated— behaved Nodded— shook head Inconvenience— discomfort, Get you— arrest you,
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Hesitated- showed hesitation Paused—stopped in between, Frighten-scare, Rob- loot, Protected- saved, lot of—plenty, Reason— (here) cause, Persuaded- convinced, Desperate- in despair, Picked up— lifted up, Mended—repaired,
PAGE 24
Nonsense-without any sense,
Following is the complete question bank for A Question of Trust
Multiple Choice Questions- A Question of Trust
Find a collection of multiple choice questions to enhance your understanding of the chapter ” A Question of Trust Class 10.” For your convenience, we’ve also included multiple choice questions with answers to help you prepare for exams.
1.Horace Danby was about————— years old.
(A) 40 (B) 45
(C) 50 (D) 55
Ans. (C) 50
2. Horace Danby ————-
(A) was unmarried (B) was going to be married
(C) had one son (D) had two sons and a daughter
Ans. (A) was unmarried
3. Horace Danby did the job of:
(A) making toys (B) making locks
(C) writing books (D) making jewellery
Ans. (B) making locks
4. Horace Danby was fond of:
(A) watching movies (B) listening to music
(C) going to public parks (D) reading rare and expensive books
Ans. (D) reading rare and expensive books
5. Why did Horace rob a safe every year?
(A) to live in style (B) to buy rare and valuable books
(C) to live comfortably (D) to support his family
Ans. (B) to buy rare and valuable books
6. Where did Horace decide to make a theft this time?
(A) Montex Grange (B) Shotover Grange
(C) Westbury Grange (D) Mintunbury Grange
Ans. (B) Shotover Grange
7. Where had the servant at Shotover Grange gone that afternoon?
(A) to their homes (B) to the market
(C) to the park (D) to the cinema
Ans. (D) to the cinema
8. What did the young lady threaten to do?
(A) to inform the police (B) to let Sherry loose at him
(C) to raise alarm (D) to call the neighbours
Ans. (A) to inform the police
9.How many times did Horace Danby make a theft in a year?
(A) only once (B) twice
(C) thrice (D) every month
Ans. (A) only once
10. Sherry was the name of ————
(A) a servant (B) dog at Shotover Grange
(C) a safe in the Grange (D) the lady in red
Ans. (B) dog at Shotover Grange
11. Where was the safe in the room?
(A) behind a cheap painting (B) behind a curtain
(C) behind a cupboard (D) behind the bed box
Ans. (A) behind a cheap painting
12. When Horace was busy doing his work of theft, what thing proved a hindrance in his work?
(A) the dog Sherry (B) flowers
(C) the lady (D) the heat of the day
Ans. (B) flowers
13. The young lady was in a ……………dress.
(A) red (B) green
(C) yellow (D) white
Ans. (A) red
14. How was Horace in his business of lock making?
(A) failure (B) very successful
(C) not took interest (D) was in a big debt
Ans. (B) very successful
15. Horace Danby was suffering from:
(A) cold (B) cough
(C) hay-fever (D) teeth ache
Ans. (C) hay-fever
16. Why did Horace take-off his gloves?
(A) to break the safe (B) to leave that place
(C) to light the lighter (D) to give her the jewels
Ans. (C) to light the lighter
Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions that follow : A Question of Trust:
Here are comprehension passage question and answer sets from the chapter ” A Question of Trust Class 10,” provided to deepen your understanding and help you prepare for exams.
1. “Then he heard a voice say from the doorway, what is it? A cold or hay fever?”
(a) Who heard whose voice and where?
(b) What is the significance of this question asked by somebody?
(c) What did Horace suffer from?
(d) How did it result in his failure in his robbery attempt at the house at Shot over Grange?
Ans. (a) Horace Danby heard a lady’s voice in the house at Shot over Grange.
(b) She appeared to be concerned about the problem. She wanted to prove that she was the; owner of the house.
(c) Horace Danby suffered from hay fever.
(d) The smell of flower made him sneeze. At Shot, over Grange, the flowers betrayed his, presence to the lady in red who posed to be the mistress of the house.
2.”Horace saw them go, and he felt happy in spite of a little tickle of hay fever in his nose.
(a) Who did Horace see ‘go’ that made him happy? How many were there?
(b) Why did Horace forget his discomfort and was pleased?
(c) Why was Horace in discomfort?
(d) How did it herald his presence in the house at Shotover Grange?
Ans. (a) Horace saw the two servants of Shotover Grange go for a movie, leaving the place empty
(b) Horace was pleased because Shotover Grange was empty and he could rob it.
(c) He was suffering from hay fever.
(d) The pollen made him sneeze. At Shotover Grange, the flowers betrayed his presence to the young lady who posed to be the mistress of the house.
3. She nodded. “I see what an inconvenience it is for you to meet me.”
(a) What was he planning to do?
(b) Is there any truth in what the lady said?
(c) Who is speaking to Horace Danby?
(d) What made ‘the lady in red’ look the real mistress of the house?
Ans. (a) He was planning to break the safe.
(b) Yes, because she interrupted Horace’s robbery attempt and startled him.
(c) Another lady-thief is speaking to him. She has posed herself as the mistress of the ho
(d) The familiar way Sherry, the dog of the house followed her, the confidence and the authoritative voice and the reason for opening the safe — all made her look the real mistress of the house.
4. 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 The writer had even mentioned that the painting hid a safe!
(a) What was foolish about people?
(b) How did Horace know about the details of the house?
(c) Where was safe?
(d) Why do you think ‘Horace Danby’ was good and respectable but not completely hon?
Ans. (a) It was foolish of rich people to give all the details of their house and sea/ every
(b) It was given in a magazine article.
(c) The writer of a magazine article had mentioned that the painting hid a safe.
(d) Horace was a good, respectable and successful locksmith. But he used to rob 8 years to get money to buy rare and expensive books.
5.The voice was suddenly sharp. “Why should I? You were going to rob me. If I let you go, you’ll only rob someone else. Society must be protected from men like you.”
(a) Identify ‘I’ in the above lines.
(b) Why was her voice sharp?
(c) What was her opinion about the robber?
(d) Why do you think the lady did not call the police immediately?
Ans. (a) ‘I’ is the young lady.
(b) She posed to be the lady of the house.
(c) She felt that society must protect from men like Horace.
(d) In fact, she herself was a thief and wanted to rob the safe. She only wanted to threaten Horace and use him for her purpose.
6. It was a quiet, kindly voice, but one with firmness in it. A woman was standing in g the doorway, and Sherry was rubbing against her. She was young, quite pretty, and was dressed in red. She walked to the fireplace and straightened the ornaments there.
(a) What does the first line reflect on the woman?
(b) What was her approach to the present situation?
(c) When was Horace confronted with the lady in red?
(d) What did she do at the fireplace?
Ans. (a) She was confident and firm.
(b) She tried to manipulate the situation according to her needs. She posed as the owner of the house.
(c) As Horace was about to open the safe, he heard a voice from the doorway. The voice was of the lady in red.
(d) She straightened the ornaments there.
7. The safe was in the drawing room, behind a rather poor painting. Horace wondered for a moment whether he should collect pictures instead of books. But they took up too much room. In a small house, books were better.
(a) Where was the safe placed?
(b) Why was he in a dilemma?
(c) Why did Horace prefer to collect books?
(d) Do you think intentions justify actions?
Ans. (a) It was behind a painting.
(b) He thought if he should collect paintings rather than books.
(c) Since pictures might take up too much room, he preferred to collect books in his small house.
(d) I do not approve this view. Means and ends both should be good, fair and just.
Short Answer Type Questions : A Question Of Trust
Check out these short answer type questions from the chapter ” A Question of Trust Class 10.” These question answer English sets are designed to offer a deeper understanding and help in exam preparation.
1. How did Horace know all the details of the house?
Ans. Horace had been studying the house for the past two weeks. Moreover, a magazine article had described this house, giving a plan of all the rooms and a picture of the room. There were also the details of the safe hidden behind the safe.
2.How did Horace fulfil his desire of reading books after he was arrested?
Ans. After Horace was arrested, he became the assistant librarian in the prison and fulfilled his desire of reading books.
3. Though Horace planned everything meticulously, why did he fail?
Ans. Though Horace planned everything meticulously; he failed led because of the smart lady. She posed herself to be the owner of the house and convinced him to open the shelf as she had “not the password of the shelf. Horace got trapped in her plot.
4. How did the flowers cause him trouble?
Ans. Horace Danby had an allergy for flowers, especially during pollen season. Who flowers are nearby, he got sneezing. The only cure for it was to stay away from those path flowers.
5. What was Horace Danby’s hobby? How did he manage to fulfil his hobby?
Ans. Horace’s only hobby was to read expensive and rare books. He used to rob a safe every year in order to arrange money for his hobby. He used to get those books from an agent.
6. How did the lady spoil his plan?
Ans. The lady posed as the owner of the house in front of Horace. Horace got scared and believed her. She asked him to open the safe as she had forgotten the password. Horace opened the safe and handed over the jewels to her. Hence, Horace’s plan of robbing the safe was spoiled.
7. Why did the lady report to the police though she promised that she would not report to the police?
Or
How did the lady deceive Horace?
Ans. The lady was very clever and shrewd. She promised Horace that she would not report to the police if he would help her in getting the jewels from the safe. Horace broke the safe and helped her. But she didn’t keep her promise as she was also a thief and did not want to get into trouble.
8. How did Horace enter Shot over Grange?
Ans. Horace had seen the housekeeper hang the key in the hook outside the kitchen door. He came out from behind the garden wall. He put on his gloves, took the key and opened the door of the kitchen and entered Shot over Grange.
9. Who is the real culprit in this story, the lady or Horace? How did he/she manage to rob the safe without leaving a single fingerprint?
Ans. In this story, the real culprit is the young lady. She managed to trick Horace for breaking the safe for her. She did not even touch the safe herself. She managed to get all the jewels. She had to do no physical exercise for this. In this way, she managed to rob the safe without leaving a single fingerprint.
10. What do you think is the meaning of the phrase ‘honour among thieves’?
Ans. The phrase ‘honour among thieves’ means that thieves have their code of conduct. One thief is honest to the other thief. They never betray one another.
11. Which of the two lacked honour?
Ans. Among the two the young lady lacked honour. She came face to face with a thief, still, she tricked ‘him. But Horace did not know that she was a thief. She got all the jewels. She went free but poor Horace was arrested. It was against the profession of thieves.
12. Describe Horace Danby.
Ans. Horace Danby was a good and respectable citizen. He was about fifty years old, but he was unmarried. He was a locksmith. He was very successful in his business. He was usually very well and healthy except for attacks of hay fever. But he was not completely honest.
13. How did Horace Danby manage to get rare and expensive books?
Ans. Horace Danby loved rare and expensive books. He bought them secretly through an agent. But for this, he had to rob a safe every year because he had not enough money to buy these books. In this way, he managed to get these rare and expensive books.
14. What did the young lady ask Horace to do for her?
Ans. The young lady told Horace that she had come there to take the jewels from the safe. She said that she had to wear them that night at a party. She made an excuse of forgetting the number to open the safe. So she compelled Horace to break open the safe for her if not she would tell the police everything about him.
15. What story did Horace tell the police when he was arrested?
Ans. He told the police that he had not stolen any jewels. He said that he broke open the safe for the young wife of the owner of the house. But the wife was herself an old lady of about sixty with grey-hair. So, none believed his story.
16. Why is Horace Danby described as good and respectable but not completely honest?
Ans. Horace Danby was a good person. He made locks. He was very successful in his business. He had engaged two helpers in his business. But he was not completely honest because he robbed a safe every year.
17. Why did he rob every year? Was he a typical thief? If so, why?
Ans. Horace loved reading rare and expensive books. So he robbed a safe every year to buy these books. He was a typical thief because he robbed only one safe every year.
18. 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.
19. He was a very successful thief. What went wrong when he attempted to rob Shotover Grange?
Ans. Danby was a very successful thief. He always used gloves while breaking a safe. He never left any fingerprints behind. This time when he started his work, he felt a little tickle in his nose. It was because of a big flower pot lying on the table. He was repeatedly sneezing. This happened wrong with him.
20. What advice did the lady give Horace regarding his hay fever? Was she really interested in his health?
Ans. The lady told Horace that he could get rid of the disease if he found out which plant had given him the disease. She advised him that he should see a doctor. Actually, she was not interested in his health. She was just trying to be friendly and sympathetic.
21. Did the young lady expect Horace to be caught after the theft?
Ans. Yes, the young lady expected Horace to be caught after the theft. She thought that it would be very easy to detect Horace with the help of fingerprints.
22. In what way could his arrest have helped her?
Ans. If Horace Danby was arrested for the jewels robbery at Shotover Grange then she could be safe. She got the jewels but Horace broke the safe for her. Thus, his arrest could have helped her by making her tension free.
23. Did Horace get the jewels from the Grange safe? If not, why did the police arrest him?
Ans. No, Horace did not get the jewels from the Grange safe. But he broke open the safe for the wife of the owner of the house without gloves. But in reality, that lady was a burglar. Thus, there were Horace’s fingerprints all over the room. So, the police arrested him for stealing the jewels from the Grange safe.
Q24. Who was Horace Danby?
Ans. Horace Danby was about fifty years old and unmarried. Everyone thought that he was a good and honest citizen. He lived with a housekeeper who worried about his health. He suffered from the attacks of hay fever in summer. He made locks and was successful at his business. But he was not completely honest. He robbed a safe once a year to buy rare and costly books.
Q25. Why was Horace Dan by not completely honest?
Ans. Generally, people thought that Horace Danby was a good, honest and respectable citizen. However, he was not completely honest. He robbed a safe every year. This was done to get the necessary money for the purchase of ‘rare and expensive’ books. The money he stole was enough to last a year. He secretly bought the books he loved through an agent.
Q26. What preparations did Horace make for ‘this year’s robbery’ at Shotover Grange?
Ans. All the previous yearly robberies of Horace Danby were successful. He felt sure that this year’s robbery at Shotover Grange would also be successful. He had been studying the location of the house for two weeks. He studied its rooms, electric wiring, paths and garden. He found out that the two servants had gone to the movies. He had seen the housekeeper hang the key to the kitchen door on a hook outside.
Q27. How did Horace Danby enter the house?
Ans. Horace Danby had been preparing for the theft. He studied the house carefully for two weeks before committing the theft in the house at Shotover Grange. He studied its rooms, electric wiring, paths and its garden. He had seen the housekeeper hang the key to the kitchen door on a hook outside. He put on a pair of gloves, took the key and opened the door. Thus, he entered the house at Shotover Grange.
Q28. What precautions did Horace make before reaching the safe? Name three of them.
Ans. Horace Danby took the following precautions before committing the theft:
(i)He put on a pair of gloves as he was always careful not to leave any fingerprints.
(ii) To tackle the house-dog, Sherry, he kept him quiet and friendly by calling him by his right name.
(iii) He cut the wire of the burglar bell.
Q29. Why was it not hard to open the safe for Horace Danby?
Ans. It was not going to be hard to open the safe for Horace Danby. After all, he had `lived with locks and safes all his life’. He made locks himself with two helpers. The burglar alarm was poorly built and he cut the wires of the burglar alarm. He knew about the safe and the key, and it was not a difficult job for him to open it when no one was present in the house.
Q30. Whose voice was it that advised Horace about the special treatment of his hay fever?
Ans. When Horace was about to open the safe, he heard a female voice. She asked if he suffered from cold or hay fever. He was sneezing again and again. She told that he could cure the hay fever with special treatment. He must find out what plant gave him that disease. She also advised Horace to see a doctor.
Q31. Describe the unexpected meeting of the young lady in red and Horace.
Ans. When a voice advised Horace to find a suitable treatment of his hay fever, he was surprised. It was a quiet, kindly voice but one with firmness in it. A young woman, quite pretty and dressed in red was standing there. She walked to the fireplace and straightened the ornaments. She said that she “didn’t expect to meet a burglar”.
Q32. Why did the woman in red threaten to telephone the police?
Ans. Horace was caught red-handed. The woman in red said that she didn’t expect to meet a burglar there. She added that she knew that it had been a great inconvenience for him to meet her. She also asked what he was going to do. Horace replied that he was thinking of running away. The lady threatened that if he did so, she would telephone the police and tell them all about him. They would get him at once.
Q33. When and why did the woman in red say, “Society must be protected from men like you”? Doesn’t it sound ironical?
Ans. Horace assured the woman in red that he would not hurt her. She must forget she ever met him. It made her angry. She couldn’t let him go, otherwise, he would rob someone else. Society must be protected from people like him. It sounds ironical because she herself was a thief and had come for the same purpose for which Horace was there in the house.
Q34. “I have always liked the wrong kind of people,” said the woman in red. Comment.
Ans. It was ironical that the woman who was being considered as the lady of the house and talking big things was herself a thief. Horace requested her to let him go. He was desperate and afraid of going to prison. He promised never to do such a thing again. The lady pretended to be generous and stated that she “always liked the wrong kind of people”.
Q35. Why did Horace mistake the young lady in red as the lady of the house?
Ans. The young woman in red was even smarter than Horace Danby. She was a thief and came with the same purpose as Horace to that house. However, she encountered Horace with an air of confidence and authority. She didn’t allow him to doubt or think about her. She showed that the dog, Sherry, belonged to her. He told him that she returned ‘home’ just in time. Her manner of speaking, gestures and confidence made Horace mistake her to be the lady of the house.
Q36. Do you think that the young woman in red proved far smarter than Horace Danby? Give reasons.
Ans. Definitely, the young woman in red proved far smarter than Horace Danby. She played her part of being the lady of the house with complete perfection. She was an example of self-confidence. She didn’t show any hesitation. She spoke and acted with an air of complete confidence and authority. Poor Horace became a puppet who couldn’t take himself out of her spell. She threatened to telephone the police and made him open the safe, while Horace was later on caught and arrested. She decamped with the jewels.
Q37. Who is the real culprit in the story, the young lady in red or Horace Danby? Comment.
Ans. Law of any land works on evidence. Horace Danby opened the safe without wearing his gloves. He didn’t think it necessary to wear them as he thought he was working for ‘the lady of the house’. So the police matched his fingerprints and he was arrested. The lady in the red was actually the real culprit. She made Horace open the safe for her. She was also a thief and decamped with the jewels. But in the eyes of the law, Horace was the real culprit because the evidence was against him.
Q38. Why didn’t the dog bark when Horace Danby and the young lady in red entered to commit theft in the house?
Ans. Both, Horace Danby and the young lady in red knew all the tricks of their trade. They knew the real nature of dogs and how to be friendly with them. A small dog when made a noise, Horace called out “All right, Sherry,” as he passed. Perhaps, the lady in red also knew like Horace that to keep dogs quiet, one must call them by their right names. Their trick worked and Sherry remained quiet.
Q39. Why did Horace Danby prefer books to collect paintings?
Ans. Horace Danby had a passion for books. Collecting and buying rare and expensive books was his passionate hobby. He resorted to robbing a safe every year to buy them. When the preference between collecting books and paintings came, he chose the former. Paintings took up too much space. In a small house like his, books were a better choice.
Q40. Why didn’t Horace Danby never get any chance to look for another safe?
Ans. Horace got nothing from the house at Shotover Grange. The lady in red decamped with the jewels. For two days, he kept his promise given to the kind, young lady in red. On the third day, he realised that he would have to look for another safe to buy books. But he never got that chance because the police arrested him for the jewel robbery at Shotover Grange.
Long Answer Type Questions- A Question of Trust to be answered in about 100 -150 words each
Explore our Long Answer Type Questions from the chapter ” A Question of Trust Class 10.” This question’s English collection is intended to deepen your understanding of the chapter and assist in exam preparation.
Answer the following questions in 100-120 words:
1. Horace Danby represents such people who adopt the wrong ways to fulfil their wishes. What values would you like such people to imbibe to reform themselves? Write in about 100-120 words.
Ans. Horace Danby was a successful businessman. He was about fifty years respectable citizen but had a habit that led him to do robberies. Danby loved rare, expensive books and to get them he used to rob a safe every year. Every year he planned carefully just to get what he wanted. Danby adopted wrong ways to fulfil his wishes and hence, later got trapped in a plot by a thief like him. People should imbibe good values. They should learn that hard work is the only key to success One should work hard to fulfil his desires. I think such people should imbibe the values of honesty, responsibility, hard work, dedication, self-confidence in order to reform themselves.
2. Horace Danby was a respectable man but he could not be called loyal. What do you think could be the reasons for leading a respectable man like him on the path of thievery? Did he feel lack of sense of freedom? Was it not in his nature to accept the differences among people regarding their social status? Discuss the values he should have possessed in 100-120 words.
Ans. Horace Danby’s habits were not typical of a thief. He was fond of books was a respectable man but his passion for books lead him to thievery. He used to steal only once. In a year so, he was never stealing more than his needs. He stole only to buy rare books; he loved rare and expensive books. Moreover, Danby used to rob only rich people. It was his nature. To accept the differences among people regarding their social status. He was aware that people with high socio-background can help him to fulfil his desire. He found such people easy to rob.
3. Horace promised the young lady that he would follow the path of honesty if sills would not hand him over to the police but he could not keep his promise for more than days. Did he lack reconciliation? Was it not in his nature to keep his promise? Did he lack the courage to fulfil his needs through an honest living? Discuss the values he needed to imbibe in 100-120 words.
Ans. The lady manipulated the whole situation as well as Horace and very skillfully got the jewels without even touching anything. She talked high things like protecting the society from culprits like Horace. Horace promised her that he would follow the path of honesty. He helped her in getting the jewels by breaking the safe without wearing gloves. But after two days, police caught him for stealing the jewels. He could not convince them that he had not taken the jewels and had helped the owner’s wife. The condition provoked him to break his promise. Although he honestly felt that he would not rob any more he could not do so as he had no other choice left.
4. Horace stated that he robbed only those who had a lot of money. Was he really a threat to the society? Did he lack the qualities of a good citizen? Discuss the values he needs to imbibe to lead a path of righteousness in 100-120 words.
Ans. I don’t think Horace was a threat to the society. He never threatened anyone and rather stole for a very good reason. He used to rob a safe every year to pursue his hobby of getting rare and expensive books to read. He was not a professional thief. Moreover, he never harmed anyone. He was considered a good and honest citizen by everyone. He was about fifty years old and unmarried. He had all the qualities of a good citizen. He was not a criminal or a typical thief. He did so only to fulfil his need. He was an honest and good man. He believed in the lady’s story and gave away all the jewels to her. If he had been a criminal, he would have killed the lady or would have never handed the jewels to her.
5. Horace Danby requested the lady to forget what she saw. Was Horace afraid of being caught? Did he lack the courage to accept his crime publicly? Explain the values one must imbibe to accept one’s mistake in 100-120 words.
Ans. Yes, Horace Danby was afraid of being caught. He lacked the courage to accept his crime publicly. He was not a professional criminal or thief. He was considered a good and honest man by everyone. He was about fifty years old and unmarried. His house was looked after by a housekeeper. He used to rob only one safe every year to pursue his habit of getting rare and expensive books to read. He used to rob only those who were rich. He had a good reputation in the society and hence did not want anyone to know about his crimes. Although he helped the lady but was caught by the police for the crime he did not commit. He learnt from his mistake.
6.” Horace had some hope because she seemed to be amused at meeting him.” Why did Horace feel so? Did he consider the young lady compassionate towards him? Did he find her free from biases? Discuss the values Horace should have imbibe understanding of the person in 100-120 words.
Ans. Horace was a fifty-year-old man who used to rob only to buy rare and expensive. This time he decided to rob Shot over Grange. But as soon as e entered the room, a Young lady appeared. She posed to be the lady of the ruse. She was very confident in her Mat, inner of talking. She talked about high ideals like pro-acting. The society from robbers like conium racked. Then she tried to be polite and nice to him. On hearing her, Horace felt that he had a hope of escaping. He found her a bit compassionate towards him. He was amused at Horace. She acted in quite a subtle manner and showed her sympathy and admiration towards a simple and honest man. He could not judge her ace. She made Horace promise that he would never commit the crime again. Horace was cleverness and shrewdness and hence later got arrested for stealing the jewels which he did not steal.
7. Write a character-sketch of Horace Danby.
Ans. Horace Danby was a good and respectable citizen. He was about fifty years old but he was unmarried. He was a locksmith. He was very successful in his business. Despite all these qualities, he was not completely honest. He had been to jail once. So he hated the thought of jail.
He loved rare and expensive books. He broke a safe every year to have enough money to buy books. He was a careful burglar. He planned his work well. He was very careful while robbing a safe. He wore gloves and never left fingerprints on the scene of the crime. Since he was a locksmith so it was very easy for him to break any safe.
Once he was duped by a young lady. That young lady, who pretended to be the owner’s wife, was also a thief. He gave all the jewels to the young lady and left his fingerprints all over the room. Thus, he was arrested and sent to prison. Now he did not like the thought of ‘honour among thieves’ any more. ‘
8. Describe Horace Danby’s encounter with the young lady.
Or
‘The lady in the red was a more professional thief than Horace Danby’. Give a reasoned answer.
Ans. Horace Danby was going to rob the safe at Shotover Grange. He had cut the wires of the burglar alarm. But the flowers on the table made a tickle in his nose and he was sneezing repeatedly. Just then a young lady dressed in red came in. She spoke friendly to Danby but her sound was firm.
She said that she was the owner’s wife. She told him that she had come there to take the jewels from the safe. She had to wear them that night at a party. She made an excuse that she had forgotten the number to open the safe. She told the thief that she would let him go if he opened the safe for her. Danby was taken in. He opened the safe without gloves. He gave all the jewels to the young lady. She went away safely with the jewels but Danby was arrested for the jewels robbery and sent to prison.
9. What were Horace Danby’s plans for his latest robbery? [H.B.S.E. March 2017 (Set-B)]
Ans. Horace was sure that the robbery he was planning for that year was going to be as successful as all the others so far. He had been observing and studying the house at Shotover Grange for two weeks. He had observed everything minutely. That afternoon, when he planned to rob the house, he had seen the two servants, who remained in the Grange, going to the movies. He came out from behind the garden wall. He had packed his tools carefully in a bag on his back. Horace knew that there were about fifteen thousand pounds worth of jewels in the Grange safe and if he sold them one by one, he was sure to get enough money to last him for another year.
Q10. How did the lady in red turn out to be much smarter and cleverer than Horace Danby? How did one thief outwit and outmanoeuvre the other?
Or
How did the lady in red manage to outsmart and outmanoeuvre the other thief, Horace Danby, by robbing the safe without leaving a single fingerprint?
Ans. The lady in red was also a thief. So was Horace Danby. But it was the lady in the red who outmanoeuvred and outwitted Horace. No doubt, Horace did his job quite professionally. He worked hard to find out the necessary details about the location of the house and the position of the key and the safe. But, Horace proved to be a novice in judging the young lady in red. The young lady acted with so much confidence and in such a convincing manner that she could easily pass off as the lady of the house. Horace Danby became a mere puppet who danced to the tune of the lady. When caught red-handed, he pleaded her to let him go. The young lady exploited his confusion and fear of going to prison fully. She made Horace open the safe. The unsuspecting Horace was made to believe that he was working for the lady of the house. So he opened the safe without putting on his gloves. He gave the jewels to the lady leaving his fingerprints on the safe. So he was found out and arrested. Naturally, the young lady in red proved far smarter and outmanoeuvred Horace Danby.
Q11. Give a character-sketch of Horace Danby in your own words. How was he outmanoeuvred by the lady in red?
Ans. Horace Danby was about fifty years old and unmarried. Everyone thought him a good and honest citizen. He was otherwise very well and happy except for attacks of hay fever in summer. He made locks and was fairly successful at his business. Horace Danby was good and respectable — but not completely honest. He used to rob a safe every year. He did so because he needed money to buy books. Horace had a passion for buying rare and costly books. With that money, he secretly bought the books he loved through an agent.
Like a professional thief, he made a lot of preparations. He made it sure that every year’s robbery was going to be as successful as all the others. He studied the location of the house at Shotover Grange—its rooms, its electric wiring, its paths and its gardens in details. He also came to know that the two servants of the house were out to the movies. He also knew where was safe and it’s key. He befriended the little dog by calling his right name.
In spite of all his professionalism, Horace Danby proved a novice in judging the lady in red. The lady in red behaved with so much confidence and authority that Horace became totally a puppet in her hands. Easily passing off as the lady of the house, she made Horace open the safe without wearing his gloves. While the lady in red decamped with the jewels, Horace was sent to prison.
Q12. Give a character-sketch of the lady in red highlighting how she outwitted Horace Danby.
Ans. We don’t get any information regarding the past history of the lady in red as we know about Horace’s past. Her whole personality remains wrapped in mystery until the end. Only when the identity of the real lady of the house is unfolded, we come to know that she is a thief. She is the real culprit. The lady in red comes there with the only purpose of committing a theft in the house like Horace. She cleverly decamps with the jewels while Horace is sent to prison.
The lady in red is gifted with a rare personality. She is full of confidence. She acts like a perfect actress presenting herself as the lady of the house. Her gestures, confidence and convincing power are enough to convince Horace. He turns out quite a novice in understanding and judging the lady in red and her motive. She dominates the proceeding. Horace only proves a puppet in her hands. She exploits his fear of going to prison. She makes him open the safe without his gloves. She convinced him that she needes those jewels to wear them to a party that night. Horace willingly hands over the jewels and she decamps with them. Only when the grey-haired, sharp-tongued woman appears as the real lady of the house, we come to know that the lady in red was a professional and crafty thief much smarter than Horace.
Q13. How had Horace planned to loot the house at Shotover Grange?
Ans. Horace Danby never committed theft in a hurry. All his previous operations were completely successful. He robbed a safe every year. This money was enough to last for a year. Like all his previous robberies, he also planned his latest robbery in a house at Shotover Grange in all details. For two weeks, he had been studying the house, its rooms, electric wiring, paths and its garden. He also had definite information that two servants working there had gone to movies. He saw them go. He came out from behind the garden wall. He had packed his tools carefully in a bag on his back. He had seen the housekeeper hang the key to the kitchen door on a hook outside. He put on a pair of gloves, took the key and opened the house. He always put on a pair of gloves before committing a theft. A magazine article had described the house with all the rooms. It also mentioned that a painting hid a safe. He collected all these details and made all preparations to make his latest theft a complete success like the others.
Q14. How was Horace Danby arrested for the robbery of the jewels in a house at Shotover Grange? Do you think his own foolishness was responsible for his arrest? Give a reasoned answer.
Ans. Horace Danby never acted recklessly in a hurry while committing a theft. He robbed a safe every year. All his previous thefts had been completely successful. Even to commit a theft in a house at Shotover Grange, he made detailed and fool-proof preparations. However, he proved a novice in comparison to the young lady in red. She, in a very confident and convincing way, made him believe that she was the lady of the house. She made him open the safe without the gloves and handover all the jewels to her. She decamped with the jewels and Horace was arrested.
By noon, a policeman arrested Horace for the jewel robbery at Shotover Grange. He had opened the safe without wearing his gloves. He did so believe that he was opening the safe for the lady of the house. He pleaded that the wife of the owner of the house had asked him to open the safe for her. The real lady of the house appeared on the scene. She was not the young lady in red but a grey-haired woman of sixty. She said that Horace’s story was nonsense. Only then, Horace came to know that he was outwitted by the lady in red who was also a thief like him.
