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Extra Questions, Notes, Assignment and study material for Class 10th as Per Latest CBSE Syllabus
Chapter- 8 English Languages and Literature- Footprints without Feet
The Hack Driver Extra Questions Answers
By– Sinclair Lewis
About the Author- Sinclair Lewis – The Hack Driver
Harry Sinclair Lewis was an American author and playwright who is best known for his ability to make witty, memorable observations of society. He created his characters with wit and humor, which was in part what made their dialogue feel like a realistic portrayal of dialogue. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1930. His creative storytelling abilities were largely attributed to the humorous ways he depicted those around him.
Introduction of the Lesson – The Hack Driver
The story ‘The Hack Driver’ is the story of a hack driver called Oliver Lutkins. He lived in New Mullion and was an important witness in a court case. The law firm wrote many letters to him but he did not appear before the court. At last, the firm sent a young lawyer to New Mullion to issue summons to Lutkins, including one for himself. The junior assistant clerk did not recognise Lutkins at first glance, so Lutkins met him at the station. He took the assistant clerk all over town in search of Lutkins without knowing it was actually him. He then tried again when Lutkins recognized himself, but decided that he was simply too late and had to return back to the city having been stopped once again en route by the legal firm’s owner who decided once more that he should come back to New Mullion one last time; this time successfully achieving service of summons on one of their most crucial witnesses.
(कहानी ‘The Hack Driver’ एक घोड़ा गाड़ीचालक की कहानी है जिसका नाम ओलिवर लुटकिन्स था I वह न्यू मुलियन में रहता था I वह एक अदालती मुकद्दमे में एक महत्वपूर्ण गवाह था I कानूनी फर्म ने उसे अनेक पत्र लिखे लेकिन वह अदालत के सामने उपस्थित नहीं हुआ I आखिर में फर्म ने एक कनिष्ठ सहायक लिपिक को लुटकिन्स को आदेश तामील करवाने के लिए न्यू मुलियन भेजा I कनिष्ठ सहायक लिपिक लुटकिन्स को नहीं पहचानता था I लुटकिन्सन उसे स्टेशन पर मिल गया I वह सहायक लिपिक को लुटकिन्स की तलाश में सारे शहर में ले गया यद्यपि वह स्वयं लुटकिन्स था I वह लुटकिन्स को आदेश तामील नहीं करा सका I उसे शहर वापस लौटना पड़ा I लेकिन कानून की फर्म मालिक ने उसे न्यू मुलियन वापस भेज दिया I वह इस बार लुटकिन्स को आदेश तामील करा सका I)
Theme of the Lesson – The Hack Driver
In ‘The Hack Driver,’ the narrator finds out a very cunning driver named Bill is actually Oliver Lutkins, another trickster. When they went to serve a summons on Oliver, the lawyer meets a driver called Bill. In order to fool the lawyer, Bill distorts his personality and performs notable magic tricks on him– playing a game of chess with only one move, pulling a rabbit from his hat, etc.– until he brings up Fritz who says that Bill stopped by not long ago. Once the story is revealed, Bill’s friendly nature allows the lawyer to see the trick for what it is and laugh about it. He went to meet a number of people, including Fritz, Gustaf’s owner; a barber; and Oliver Lutkins’ mother. However he was unsuccessful in finding out anything about his new employee. His boss berated him for wasting time and told Bill to go back to New Mullion with someone who knew Lutkins. When they arrived at the town, they found Bill and Lutkins’ mother together. The man that recognized Lutkins convinced them that it was Lutkins himself who was waiting there.
Important Word-Meanings of difficult words from the lesson- The Hack Driver
[PAGE 47] : Hack = A horse-drawn vehicle (घोड़ागाड़ी); serve = to issue (तामील करवाना); summons= court orders (अदालत के आदेश); magnificent = glorious (शानदार); legal = lawful (कानूनी); briefs = summary of cases (मुकद्दमे का संक्षेप); detective = secret agent (गुप्तचर); victims = preys (शिकार); unpleasant= vulgar (भद्दा); revealed = disclosed (प्रत्यक्ष करना); considered = thought over (विचार किया); fleeing = running away (भाग जाना); rejoiced = felt happy (आनंदित होना); witness = evidence (गवाह); ignored = neglected (अवहेलना करना); expectations = hopes (आशाएँ); severely = violent (प्रचंड); disappointed = frustrated (निराश); bare = naked (नंगा) I Graduating—(here) often getting a university degree, Assistant—Junior, Magnificent—grand, Firm—company, Legal briefs-Summary of legal facts, Serve summons—sending summons of the court, call from the court, Wrill Victims—targets, Considered—thought, Fleeing—running away, Rejoiced—delighted, County—(here) district, Witness-person who sees something happening, Ignored—avoided, Eager—enthusiastic, Severely—extremely, Sour brown—unpleasant brown colour, Agreeable—pleasant, Delivery man—one who deliver goods, Cheerful—happy, Well worn—quite worn, Always up to something—(here) doing one mischief or the other, Poker—a card game of betting, Hack—a coach that is hired, Hangs out—wanders about, Glowed—shone, Warmth— (here) warmth of friendliness, Affection—love, Fare money—hire money, bargain—(here) to settle price, Sort of—kind of, Task—job, work, Interfere—intervene, cents—half a dollar,
[PAGE 48] : Probably = more likely (संभवतया); poker game = a game of cards (ताश का खेल) locating = finding out (ढूँढना); glowed = shone (चमक उठा); warmth = heat (गर्माहट); affection = love (स्नेह); glad= happy (ख़ुशी); managed = arranged (प्रबंध कर लेना); bargain = settlement of once (सौदेबाजी करना); sort = type (प्रकार); interfere = meddle (हस्तक्षेप करना) I
[PAGE 49] : Suspicious = doubtful (संदेहास्पद); confidence = trust (विश्वास); settled = fixed (तय कर लिया ); earnestly = honestly (ईमानदारीपूर्वक); folks= people (लोग); proceed = to go ahead (आगे बढ़ना); deceiving = cheating (धोखा देते हुए); admire = praise (प्रशंसा करना); talent = quality (गुण); regret = sorry (खेद); cheerily = merrily (प्रसन्नतापूर्वक); hesitated = held hack (हिचक जाना); admitted = accepted (स्वीकार कर लेना); lingered= stayed back (पीछे ठहर जाना); concluded = guessed (निष्कर्ष निकाला); exhausted = finished (समाप्त कर देना); poolroom = gamble house (जुआघर); pursued = chased (पीछा किया); rough = vulgar (भद्दा); scarcely = hardly (मुश्किल से) Part with — separate, Fancy— fine and fashionable, Suspicious—doubtful, Fritz’s— (here) Fritz’s shop, Information— knowledge, Settled— (here) decided, Earnestly— seriously, honestly, Folks— people, Proceed— move towards, Just— exact, Admire— praise, Regret—repentance, Cheerfully—happily Hesitated—faltered, Lingered— (here) kept standing, Owes— has to pay, Concluded— decided, Exhausted—finished, Credit— (here) money, cash, Probably— perhaps, Pool room— a gambling den, Pursued— followed, fail suurcety—hardly,
[PAGE 50] : Charge = to cost (कीमत लेना); greasy = oily (चिकना); entirely = completely (पूर्णतया); country = rural side (देहात); pastures = meadows (चारागाहें); creek = small gulf (छोटी खाड़ी): slipped = slided (फिसल जाना); commented = expressed views (विचार व्यक्त किए); strengthened = gave strength (मजबूत करना); resumed = started again (दुबारा आरंभ किया); guessed = concluded (अनुमान लगाया); Ought to— should, Greasy— (here) Oily, Sick of— fed up, Country—rural, Pastures— grazing grounds, Creek— a narrow, inlet on sea coast, Minister’s— of the clergyman, Commented— made comments on, Made them live— (here) describe as if they were alive, standing before, Adventures— (here) courageous acts, Philosophy— school of thought, Woods— forests, Resumed— started again, Terror— one who terrorises, Sighed— breathed deeply, Skin off— took the skin off, Swearing— (here) calling names, Enormous— huge, Sound— (here) appear, Retired— went back, Seized— caught, Stove— hearth, Iron— (here) iron rod, Frightened— scared, Retreat— moving back, Whispered— spoke softly, Pretty— (here), enough, Disrespectful— insulting, Treatment—behaviour, Storey— floor, Peering— peeping inside, Barn— granary, Stable— place where horses are kept,
[PAGE 51] : Terror = fright (आतंक); swearing = to say firmly (दृढ़ता से कहना); enormous = very big in size (विशालकाय); Carter = coachman (गाड़ीवान); represents= a member of delegation (प्रतिनिधि होना); impressed = convinced (प्रभावित हुआ); retired = went away (चला जाना); seized = hold (पकड़ना); retreat = receding (पीछे हट जाना); peering = looking (झांकना); examined = enquired (निरीक्षण किया); barn = granary (अनाज का भंडार गृह); worried = troubled (चिंतित); strict = hard (कठोर); excited = stimulated (उत्तेजित); treasure = anything much valued (खजाना); upset = confused (परेशान) I Promising—potentially bright, Legal career—legal profession, Ditch—moat, Begged—requested,Ought—should,
[PAGE 52] : Promising = giving assurance (वचन देते हुए); career = way of making a livelihood (व्यवसाय); hinted = pointed (संकेत किया); ditches = moats (खाइयां); prevent = stop (रोकना); loafing = to spend time idly (आवारागर्दी करना); companion = mate (साथी); hurt = pricked (चुभना); anxious = troubled (चिंताग्रस्त); missed = failed to obtain (चूक जाना) I
Detailed Summary of the Lesson – The Hack Driver
1.Narrator — a clerk in a Law Firm: The speaker was a junior assistant clerk in a law firm. He worked in the return department and did not prepare any legal briefs, but he served summonses. He found city life to be dirty and violent. Sometimes he could imagine fleeing back to his hometown.
2. Sent to Serve Summons on Oliver Lutkins: The lawyer (the narrator) rejoiced when he was sent out forty miles to a country town, New Mullion. He was to serve a summons on a man called Oliver Lutkins. Oliver was needed in a law case as a witness.
3. Met Bill-the Hack Driver: There, he met a forty-year-old man with red hair and a red face. He was called Bill, as his name suggests. Bill told him that he saw Oliver Lutkins an hour ago, who then served the narrator with a summons. Bill said that he would work for the lawyer at two dollars per hour.
4. Bill Manipulated the Tour around the Town: Bill first took the lawyer (the narrator) to Fritz’s place. Fritz told them that Oliver Lutkins was there a little while ago. Perhaps he had gone to Gustaf’s bather shop. They drove to the barbershop. The barber said angrily that he had not seen Lutkins. Then they came to the pool room. They were told that Lutkins had just bought a pack of cigarettes and gone out. The lawyer was impressed with Bill’s cooperation and help.
5. Meeting with Oliver’s Terrible Huge Mother: Then Bill drove to the mother’s farm. Again they asked the same question about Oliver. She shouted that she didn’t know anything about Oliver. Bill pressed her to tell Oliver’s whereabouts. He wanted to search the house. She seized an iron bar from the stove and marched on them shouting. She warned if they dared to search her house, she would burn them. Bill asked the lawyer to get out of there as Oliver’s mother would murder them.
6. The Narrator Returned Disappointed: The narrator wasn’t able to find Oliver Lutkins. He was disappointed. When he got back to his office, the thief was furious, and yelled at him for his failure. He was sent back to New Mullion with a man who knew Oliver Lutkins from working with him before.
7. Bill Himself was Recognised as Lutkins: The train arrived at New Mullion. Bill was on the station platform near his cart. Strangely enough, Oliver Lutkins’ mother, the old tigress, was talking and laughing with him. The narrator told his companion that Bill had helped him in hunting for Oliver Lutkins. The companion was surprised. He told that his name was not Bill but he was Oliver Lutkins himself. He had worked with him.
8. Oliver Lutkins makes a mockery of summons: When the summons was served, Lutkins and his mother laughed at him. They looked at the narrator as if he were a bright boy of seven. They begged the narrator to go with them to a neighbour’s house for a cup of coffee. They were anxious to look at the narrator. They were the only people in the town that missed seeing him the previous day.
Detailed Summary of the Lesson – The Hack Driver (2) :
After graduating from law school, the narrator became a junior assistant clerk. He had to serve summons in court cases by visiting poor communities and dirty streets and he found this unpleasant work.
When he was asked to go to New Mullion, a town 40 miles away from the one he currently resided in, to serve summonses on Oliver Luthkin, The narrator took a train. He hired a hack for two dollars an hour to drive him there because that is what it cost to hire a hack.
The hack driver himself was the same person whom the narrator was looking for but he did not recognise him. The hack driver told him that his name was Bill or Magnuson and everybody called him Bill. He told the narrator that Lutkins would be playing poker, a game in the back of Fritz’s shop. They went there but could not find Lutkins there. Then they went to Gustaf’s shop. Fritz had told them that Lutkins had gone there for a shave. When they arrived there, they were informed that Lutkins had not come there.
Later they went to Gray’s shop who told them that Lutkins had just gone away five minutes ago to the poolroom. They reached the poolroom. There they were told that Lutkins had come there but he had just bought a packet of cigarettes and gone away. It was I p.m. by then. They were feeling hungry. Bill suggested the narrator that they should enjoy their lunch on Wade’s Hill. Bill got the lunch packed from his wife and they enjoyed it on the hilltop.
In Bill’s town on the hill, he talked about all the different people who live there and how they lived their lives. There was the minister and his wife, college students and their wives, and lawyer’s wife. After this conversation, the narrator came to know much more about Bill’s town.
Bill told the narrator that Lutkins would have gone to his mother’s farmhouse three kilometres away in the north. He said that his mother was a terror. He narrated him his experience with Lutkins mother. They reached there and inquired Lutkins’ mother about his whereabouts. She ran after them with an iron rod in her hand. But anyhow they could manage to examine the whole house but could not find him there.
It was nearly time for the narrator to catch the afternoon train and Bill drove him to the station. The narrator was worried that he would not find Lutkins, so he contemplated returning to New Mullion and practicing law.
When the narrator told the owner of the firm that he could not trace out Lutkins, he got very angry. They were badly in need of Lutkins the next morning. He asked the narrator to return back to New Mullion immediately. He sent another person with the narrator who recognised Lutkins. When they arrived at New Mullion station, Bill was standing at the station near his carriage. The author recognised him as Bill Magnuson but the other man said that it was Oliver Lutkins in tralitv. The narrator was very much surprised. He served his a summons.
Main Points of the Lesson – The Hack Driver
- The narrator was a junior assistant clerk in a law firm. He was usually sent to serve the summons. He hated his unpleasant work because, sometimes, he was beaten up by some of his victims.
- He was very happy when the firm sent him out forty miles in the country.
- He was to serve a summons on a man, Oliver Lutkins, in the town called New Mullion.
- He was disappointed to see the narrow, muddy streets and wooden shops of New Mullion.
- The only man he liked in Mulligan was a delivery man who called himself Bill.
- Bill, the hack (cab) driver was about forty, red-faced and a cheerful man.
- The lawyer (the narrator) told Bill that he came there to serve a summons on a man called Oliver Lutkins. He was a witness in a legal case.
- Bill told that he saw Oliver Lutkins only an hour ago around there.
- The narrator hired Bill’s hack at two dollars an hour.
- Bill told him that they could find Oliver at Fritz’s place and suggested him to remain behind him.
- Bill told the lawyer that Oliver Lutkins was good at deceiving people and played a lot of pokers.
- Fritz informed them that Lutkins was present there a little while ago. Perhaps, he had gone to Gustaf’s barber shop for a shave.
- Gustaff said angrily that he had not seen Oliver Lutkins.
- Then, they went to Gray’s barber shop and there they were told that Oliver Lutkins was there only five minutes ago.
- They again started hunting and searching for Lutkins and now Bill suggested going to Oliver Lutkins’ mother’s farm.
- When asked about Oliver Lutkins, his mother shouted that she didn’t know anything about him.
- Bill persisted that Lutkins was immediately wanted as a witness in a legal case. He pressed for making a search of the house.
- Oliver Lutkins’ mother seized an iron rod from the stove and threatened to burn them if they dared to make a search there.
- The lawyer (the narrator) was highly disappointed as he couldn’t find even a trace of Oliver Lutkins.
- When he came back to his office, the boss rebuked him for his failure.
- He ordered the narrator to go back to New Mullion. He sent with him a man who recognised Oliver Lutkins as he had worked with him.
- When they reached New Mullion, he found Bill standing at the platform near his hack.
- Bill and Oliver Lutkins’ terrible mother stood together talking and laughing freely.
- The narrator introduced Bill, the hack driver, to his companion. He told how he had helped him in searching Oliver Lutkins.
- The narrator’s companion was surprised. He told him that the man was not Bill but Oliver Lutkins himself.
- When the narrator served summons, Lutkins and his mother laughed at him as he were a boy of seven.
- They begged the narrator to go with them to a neighbour’s house for a cup of coffee.
- Oliver Lutkins told the narrator that his neighbours were eager to meet such a (foolish) man.
- They were the only persons in the town who missed seeing him the previous day.
Summary in Hindi of the Lesson – The Hack Driver
स्नातक की उपाधि की परीक्षा पास करने के पश्चात लेखक एक कानून की फर्म में कनिष्ठ सहायक लिपिक बन गया I उसका काम लोगों को अदालती मुकदमों के संबंध में अदालती आदेश तामील कराना था I उसे शहर के गंदे क्षेत्रों में जाना पड़ता था I वह इस असुखद कार्य से घृणा करता था I
एक बार उसे ओलिवर लुटकिन्स नामक एक आदमी को अदालती आदेश तामील करवाने के लिए न्यू मुलियन जाने को कहा गया I यह स्थान वहाँ से चालीस मील दूर था I वह वहाँ गाड़ी से पहुँचा I उसने दो डॉलर प्रति घंटे के हिसाब से एक तांगा किराए पर ले लिया I लेखक ने गाड़ीवान को बताया कि वह ओलिवर लुटकिन्स से मिलना चाहता है I गाड़ीवान स्वयं वही व्यक्ति था जिसे लेखक ढूँढ रहा था, लेकिन वह उसे नहीं पहचानता था I
गाड़ीवान में उसे बताया कि उसका नाम बिल और मैग्नुसन है और सभी उसे बिल के नाम से पुकारते हैं I उसने उसे बताया कि लुटकिन्स फ्रिट्ज की दुकान के पिछवाड़े में पोकर का खेल खेल रहा होगा I वे वहाँ गए परंतु वह उन्हें वहाँ नहीं मिला I तब वे ग़ुस्टॉफ की दुकान पर गए I फ्रिट्ज ने उन्हें बताया था कि लुट किन्स वहाँ दाढ़ी बनवाने गया है I जब वे वहाँ पहुँचे तो उन्हें बताया गया कि लुटकिन्स वहाँ नहीं आया था I
बाद में वे ग्रे की दुकान पर गए, जिसने उन्हें बताया कि लुटकिन्स सिर्फ पाँच मिनट पहले ही जुआ घर गया था I वे जुआघर पहुँचे I वहाँ उन्हें बताया गया कि लुटकिन्स वहाँ आया तो था लेकिन उसने सिर्फ एक पैकेट सिगरेट खरीदा और चला गया I तब तक दोपहर बाद का एक बज चुका था उसे भूख लग गई थी I बिल ने लेखक को सुझाव दिया कि उन्हें अपने दोपहर के खाने का आनंद बाड़े की पहाड़ी पर लेना चाहिए I बिल ने अपनी पत्नी से दोपहर का भोजन पैक करवाया और उन्होंने पहाड़ी की चोटी पर उसका आनंद लिया I
पहाड़ी की चोटी पर बैठे हुए बेल ने अपने शहर के लोगों के बारे में विस्तार से बातें की I उसने मंत्री की पत्नी, कॉलेज के विद्यार्थियों और वकील की पत्नी के बारे में बातें कीं I लेखक को कस्बे के बारे में अधिक जानकारी प्राप्त हो गई I तब वे पहाड़ी की चोटी से नीचे उतर आए I
बिल ने लेखक को बताया की लुटकिन्स उत्तर दिशा में तीन किलोमीटर दूर स्थित अपनी माँ के फार्म हाउस पर चला गया होगा I उसने कहा कि उसकी माँ एक आतंक है I उसने लुटकिन्स की माँ के साथ अपने अनुभव को उसे सुनाया I वे वहाँ पहुँचे और लुटकिन्स की माँ से उसके बारे में जानकारी माँगी I वह अपने हाथ में लोहे की एक छड़ लेकर उनके पीछे भागी I लेकिन जैसे-तैसे उन्होंने घर का निरीक्षण कर लिया और उन्हें वह कहीं भी नहीं मिला I
लेखक का दोपहर बाद वाली गाड़ी पकड़ने का समय हो गया था और बिल उसे स्टेशन तक ले आया I शहर की ओर लौटते समय रास्ते में वह लुटकिंस को ढूँढ पाने में अपनी असफलता के बारे में बहुत कम चिंतित था वह बिल मैग्नुसन के बारे में सोचने में बहुत व्यस्त था I वह न्यू मिलियन में लौटकर वकालत करने के बारे में विचार कर रहा था I
जब लेखक ने फर्म के मालिक को बताया कि वह लुटकिन्स को नहीं ढूँढ पाया है तो वह बहुत क्रोधित हो गया I उन्हें अगली सुबह लुटकिन्स हर हालत में चाहिए था I मालिक ने लेखक को तुरंत न्यू मुलियन लौट जाने को कहा I उसने लेखक के साथ एक अन्य व्यक्ति को भेजा जो लुटकिन्स को पहचानता था I जब वे न्यू मिलियन पहुँचे तो उन्होंने बिल को अपने वाहन के पास खड़े हुए देखा I लेखक ने उसकी पहचान बिल मैग्नुसन के रूप में की, जबकि दूसरे आदमी ने कहा कि वह वास्तव में ओलिवर लुटकिन्स है I लेखक बहुत अधिक हैरान था I उसने उससे आदेश तामील करवा दिए I
Extract Based / comprehension test Questions and Answers of The Hack Driver
Multiple Choice Questions of the Lesson – The Hack Driver
1.After doing graduation with honours, what job did the narrator get?
(A) teacher (B) junior assistant clerk in a law firm
(C) lawyer (D) police officer
Ans. (B) junior assistant clerk in a law firm
2. What job was assigned to the narrator in the law firm?
(A) serve summons (B) prepare legal briefs
(C) fight cases (D) all of the above
Ans. (A) serve summons
3. Where was the narrator sent one day?
(A) New Mullion (B)’ Old Mullion
(C) Red Mullion (D) Hill Mullion
Ans. (A) New Mullion
4. The narrator was sent to New Mullion to serve a summons on:
(A) Fritz (B) Gustaff
(C) Oliver Lutkins (D) Oliver Lutkins’ mother
Ans. (C) Oliver Lutkins
5. New Mullion was at a distance of kilometres from the place where the narrator was employed.
(A) ten (B) twenty
(C) thirty (D) forty
Ans. (D) forty
6. The narrator went to New Mullion by :
(A) bus (B) train
(C) plane (D) hack
Ans. (B) train
7. What was the only agreeable sight when the narrator reaches New Mullion station?
(A) streets (B) shops
(C) the delivery man (D) all of the above
Ans. (C) the delivery man
8. How was the delivery man to the narrator?
(A) friendly (B) haughty
(C) indifferent (D) cold
Ans. (A) friendly
9. Who offered the narrator to help in locating Oliver Lutkins?
(A) Gustaff (B) Fritz
(C) Oliver’s mother (D) The Hack Driver
Ans. (D) The Hack Driver
10. Who was the Hack Driver actually?
(A) Fritz (B) Gustaff
(C) Oliver Lutkins (D) Gray
Ans. (C) Oliver Lutkins
11. Where did the hack driver take the narrator first of all?
(A) Fritz’s shop (B) Gustaff’s shop
(C) Gray’s shop (D) Oliver’s mother’s farmhouse
Ans. (A) Fritz’s shop
12. Who gave himself a false name ‘Bill’?
(A) the narrator (B) Oliver Lutkins
(C) Fritz (D) Gustaff
Ans. (B) Oliver Lutkins
13. Where did the narrator and the hack driver enjoy their lunch?
(A) in a big restaurant (B) at Oliver’s house
(C) at Fritz’s house (D) on Wade’s Hill
Ans. (D) on Wade’s Hill
14. Oliver’s mother rush after the narrator in her hand.
(A) an iron rod (B) a gun
(C) a stick (D) a stone
Ans. (A) an iron rod
15. Did the narrator find Oliver during his first visit to New Mullion?
(A) yes (B) no
(C) maybe (D) not known
Ans. (B) no
16. Why was the narrator ordered back to New Mullion once again?
(A) to arrest Lutkins
(B) to serve the summons on him
(C) to live permanently in New Mullion
(D) all of the above
Ans. (B) to serve summons of him
17. Who was sent with the narrator on his second visit to New Mullion?
(A) a relative of Lutkins
(B) an experienced lawyer
(C) a man who had worked with Lutkins
(D) none of the above
Ans. (C) a man who had worked with Lutkins
18. Was the narrator successful in serving a summons on Lutkins on his second visit?
(A) yes (B) no
(C) maybe (D) may not be
Ans. (A) yes
19. What was Gustaff?
(A) a barber (B) a butcher
(C) a hack driver (D) a carpenter
Ans. (A) a barber
20. Who is the writer of the story ‘The Hack Driver’?
(A) Guy de Maupassant (B) Sinclair Lewis
(C) K.A. Abbas (D) Claire Boiko
Ans. (B) Sinclair Lewis
Extracts of the Lesson – The Hack Driver
Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:
1.I” ll tells you what. I’ve got a hack to get it out and we can drive around together and find liking know most of the places flee out”.
(a) Who does refer to here?
(b) Why did the lawyer come to fad Lukens?
(c) Who befriends him in New Mullion?
(d)Where dim the hack drivers take him?
Ans. (a) I refer, to the hark driver.
(b)The lawyer came to find Lukens as he had the summons to serve him.
(c), A red-faced man about forty who had an engaging personality was paid to transport the protagonist.
(d) He offered to help him find Lukens. He took him to various places which Lukens fow4uently visited.
2. I loved him for this. By myself, I might never have found Lukens. With the hack briers knowing help, I was sure of getting my man. I took him into my confidence and told him that I wanted to serve the summons on Lukens-which the man had refused to be a witness when his information would have quickly settled our case. The driver listened earnestly. In the end, he hit me on the shoulder and laughed.
(a) ‘I loved him for this’. Who do T and him’ refer to?
(b) What did the lawyer tell Bill?
(c) Why did the narrator love him?
(d)What does the hack driver say about Lukens?
Ans. (a) I refer to the young lawyer and he stands for the hack driver.
(b) The lawyer told Bill that he wanted to serve the summons to Lukens.
(c) The narrator loved him because he was very open-minded, friendly and ready to help a stranger.
(d) He was not really bad, but it was difficult to get back money from him because he was careless and dishonest
3. What really hurt me was that when I served the summons, Lukens and his mother laughed at me as though 1 were a bright boy of seven. With loving kindness, they begged me to go with them to a neighbour’s house for a cup of coffee.
(a) Who is?
(b) What hurts the lawyer?
(c) Why did Lukens take the lawyer to his neighbour’s house?
(d) Do you think the lawyer was gullible?
Ans. (a) ‘I’ is the lawyer
(b) The laughter and behaviour of Lukens and his mother hurt the lawyer.
(c) Lukens’ family had a difficult time reaching their lawyer the previous day. They went to see him that evening and were very excited to meet with him.
(d) Yes, I think the lawyer was gullible. He was tricked and be fooled by the hack driver.
4. We left that peaceful scene of meadows and woods and resumed our search of Oliver Ida tins. We could not find him. At last, Bill cornered a friend of Lukens and made him admit what came out to his mother’s farm, three miles north.” We drove out there, laying plans.
(a) Who are ‘We’?
(b) Why are ‘we’ searching for Oliver Lukens?
(c) Why could the lawyer not find Lukens?
(d) What character traits of the lawyer do these lines reveal?
Ans. (a) ‘We’ stands for the lawyer and the hack driver.
(b) They wore searching Oliver Lukens to serve him the summons.
(r) Lukens is the hack driver himself with whom the lawyer spends the whole day.
(d) The lawyer is a nature-lover, simple and over-trusting person.
5. Some of the larger and more self-confident ones even beat me up. I hated this unpleasant work and the side of city life it revealed to me.
(a) Who was the speaker here?
(b) What was the unpleasant work he is talking about?
(c) Why did he hate the work?
(d) What job did the narrator get after graduation?
Ans. (a) the narrator of the story ‘The Hack Driver’.
(b) He was a junior assistant clerk.
(c) It was because he had the job of serving summons to criminals, who were sometimes more powerful than him and beat him up.
(d) The narrator got the job of a junior assistant clerk in a big law firm.
Main Characters of the Story- The Hack Driver
Character Sketch
1. Oliver Lutkins:
Oliver Lutkins is a scammer who lives in the small town of New Mullion. However, Lutkins manages to easily trick a lawyer into believing that he is Bill Magnuson, the hack driver. Lutkins achieves this by fooling the narrator into thinking it is very hard to trace his whereabouts. He then takes the lawyer to many different shops, but never actually allows them to speak directly with the people they visit. Bill takes the narrator all over the town as they keep missing Lutkins by small periods of time. Bill is also a friendly person, but when the lawyer comes to New Multi a second time, Lutkins seems rude and unfriendly. However, Bill painted Lutkins as someone who was dishonest and lied to everyone in the town. He owed money to a lot of people with a talent for manipulation while living in a rural town and managing to manipulate another lawyer from the big city.
2. The Narrator:
He’s a lawyer who hates city life and decides to work in the more rural areas. He visits New Mullion to serve a summon on Oliver Lutkins, but he becomes dubious when no one answers the door. Lutkins pretends to be the driver, Bill, and convinces him of things like stealing his car and forged passports. He visited New Mullion with Bill but was unable to meet Lutkins. Since he visited New Mullion on an important matter, he failed to be careful in carrying out his job. The narrator appears to be a novice and not a seasoned law-enforcement officer. He had a romantic vision of rural life but was easily tricked by crooks in New Mullion.
Short Answer Questions of the Lesson – The Hack Driver
1. Why do you think Bill offered to help the narrator find Lukens?
Ans. Bill himself was Lukens. He knew that the lawyer is searching for him. He wanted to play a prank on him and offered to help him find Lukens. Even he made some money in this process and made him wander here and there. He and his mother made a fool of the narrator and had great laughter.
2. The writer wasn’t very fond of new mullion when he reached the place. What made him grow fond of the village and its people?
Ans. At first, the writer did not like the village. His expectations of a small yet lovely rural location were quickly dashed by the unfriendly and rugged conditions of the village. Bill, on the other hand, was full of warmth and affection and that motivated the author to continue enjoying their time in this place. The writer began to see their efforts as worth it and cared deeply about their close relationships with Bill.
3.’But he was no more dishonest than I’. Elaborate the statement with reference to ‘The Hack Driver’.
Ans. The lawyer charged a handsome amount from his firm to visit new mullion. He was given some amount to expend in the process of searching Lukens. But he paid very little money to the hack driver. Bill already knew that the lawyer was searching for him, still, he made him wander here and there, and even charged him two dollars an hour for six hours, including one hour of his lunchtime. This made the lawyer utter these words.
4. Write the plan suggested by Bill for lunch and state the reason behind it.
Ans. The lawyer felt hungry and wanted to eat something in a restaurant but Bill suggested him to take lunch at his home cooked by his wife. He told him that it will cost him cheaper than the restaurant because she won’t charge him more than half a dollar. He did so because he wanted to make some money out of it. Secondly, it will take nearly cur hour to go there and have lunch so ho will be charged another two dollars for it. Thus it was a good business for him.
5. What qualities of the hack driver impressed the young lawyer?
Ans. The hack driver’s friendly manner and open personality made the lawyer determine that he liked people. The hack driver’s openness again allowed for a conversation, which the lawyer came to feel warmth and affection for.
6. Describe the feelings of the young lawyer when he came to know the reality of the hack driver at last.
Ans. As long as the lawyer did not know that the hack driver was Lukens himself, he enjoyed the hack driver’s company and glowed in the warmth of his affection. But as the identity of the hack driver was revealed, the lawyer felt very quite hurt. This was especially when Lukens and his mother laughed at the lawyer as though h he rye was a boy when he served the summons. Later, however, he acknowledged their loving kindness too.
7. On his way back, the narrator did not worry about his failure to find Lukens. What was the reason behind his carefree attitude?
Ans. On his way back to New Mullion, the lawyer did not worry about the failure of his mission, because he was too busy thinking about Bill Magnuson, the hack driver. In fact, he even started considering returning to New Mullion in order to practice law. He found Bill deep and richly human and pictured an honest and happy life in the village.
8. Discuss the character of the young lawyer as depicted in the chapter The Hack Driver’?
Ans. The narrator who is a lawyer is a man who could be taken for a ride very easily. He easily gets flattered by affection and warmth and fails to apply logic to even essential things. The hack driver who is Lukens himself, whom the narrator wants to meet, thus dupes him very easily. The gullible nature of the narrator invites our sympathy for him.
9. The hack driver at New Mullion befriended the lawyer. What did he do after that?
Ans. After befriending the lawyer, the hack driver who was Lukens himself offered to ‘search for’ Lukens to whom the lawyer had to serve the summon. He first took the lawyer to Fritz’s shop, then to Mustafa’s and Gray’s barber shops and then to the poolroom. Later, he took the lawyer to his wife for lunch for half a dollar and finally to `Lukens’ mother.
10. How did Bill paint a picture of people in words?
Ans. The Bill, the hack driver was very talkative. He won his confidence. He drove him to various places telling that the villagers would help him in fading Lukens.
11. Why was the lawyer happy about the day?
Ans. Lukens was served with a summons to New Mullion, a small village in the country where Lukens was happy. The small-town atmosphere in New Mullion compared to the crowded, noisy, and dry environment of down-town Manhattan was what Lukens wanted.
12. How was the hack driver recognized?
Ans. The next day, when the lawyer arrived at New Mullion, the police station was right next door and Bill was conversing with Lufkin’s mother outside. The lawyer was shocked to find out that Bill really was Lukens, not a new friend of Lufkin’s.
13. What did the hack driver tell the narrator about Lukens’ mother?
Ans. He said that she was nine feet tall and four feet thick as a cat and could talk sharp. She was a real terror. Once, she almost took off his skin because he did not treat the box she had given to him to carry as delicately as a box of eggs.
14. Why could the lawyer not find Lukens?
Ans. Inca Is having a hard time finding Lukens because Bill, the company hack driver who worked for Lukens, was Lukens. In this instance, Inca is unable to identify and locate the person he’s supposed to find. Bill used a practical joke on him.
15. Does the narrator serve the summons that day? If’ not, why?
Ans. The narrator could not serve the summons that day as he could not find ‘, Aka’s, ‘it did not know that the hack driver named Bill was actually Lukens himself and was making a practical joke on him in the name of helping him in searching Lukens.
16. How did Lufkin’s mother receive the narrator?
Or
How did Lufkin’s mother treat the lawyer?
Ans. The hack driver took him to the farm of Lufkin’s mother. He introduced the lawyer and told her that he had come to serve summons to Lukens and had legal right to search the property. The mother got irritated and attacked him with hot iron rods. Both got scared and ran away.
17. How did the hack driver describe Lufkin?
Ans. The hack driver told the narrator that Lukens was very popular among the fellow villagers. He was a careless, dishonest wanderer and could be seen here, there, everywhere. He was always up to one thing or the other. He owed money to several people.
18. Why did the young lawyer wish to return to New Mullion?
Ans. The young lawyer failed to serve the document in the case of Lukens, but he was so much impressed with how friendly and attentive the locals were that he decided to become a country lawyer. He planned to move to New Mullion and abandon his job.
Q19. What kind of a job was the narrator usually entrusted with? Why wasn’t he satisfied with his job in the city?
Ans. The narrator was a junior assistant clerk in a magnificent law firm. He was sent, not to prepare legal briefs but to serve the summons. He had to act like a cheap private detective. It wasn’t easy and safe to go to the ‘dirty’ and ‘shadowy’ corners of the city. Sometimes he was even beaten up by toughs. He hated his job and working in such a hostile environment in the city.
Q20. Why did he consider fleeing to his home town?
Ans. Serving summons in the dirty and shadowy corners of the city was quite an unpleasant job. On many occasions, he was beaten up by the musclemen and toughs. He even considered fleeing to his home town because it was more pleasant and safe to work there. He could have been a real lawyer there without going through the job of a cheap detective.
Q21. Why did the lawyer rejoice at his new assignment?
Ans. Working in the dirty and shadowy parts of the city was becoming more dangerous and difficult for the lawyer. He was overjoyed when his law firm sent him out forty miles out in the country to a town called New Mullion. He was to serve a summons on a man called Oliver Lutkins. They needed this man as a witness in a legal case. The idea of visiting a country town with cleaner surroundings was quite a welcome and romantic diversion for him.
Q22. Why was the narrator disappointed when he got to New Mullion? What was the only ‘agreeable sight’ about the place?
Ans. The narrator had formed quite a romantic and pleasant picture of this country town called New Mullion. When he reached there, his eager expectations were belied. He was very much disappointed. Its streets were narrow rivers of mud. Its shops were either badly painted or not painted at all. The only agreeable sight about the place was the delivery man at the station who called himself Bill.
Q23. What impression did the narrator (the lawyer) form of Bill when he met him for the first time?
Ans. The narrator found the delivery man at the station as the only ‘agreeable sight’ in New Mullion. The man called himself Bill and he was a hack driver. He was about forty. He looked red-faced and cheerful. He looked thick in the middle. His working clothes were dirty and worn out. His manners were pleasant and friendly. The narrator was happy to meet such a man.
Q24. What did the narrator tell Bill and what was his reply about Oliver Lutkins?
Ans. The narrator himself told Bill the purpose of his visit to New Mullion. He told him that he had come there in search of a man named Oliver Lutkins. Bill seemed to be a little surprised and asked, “Lutkins?” Then he replied that he saw Lutkins around there about an hour ago. It was difficult to catch him. He was always up to something or the other. Perhaps he could be found in the back of Fritz’s shop trying to set up a poker game. Bill told the lawyer that he knew the places Lutkins usually could be found in.
Q25. Why did the narrator feel that Bill had already made it his own task to find Oliver Lutkins for him?
Ans. The narrator found Bill very open and friendly. He ‘glowed with warmth’ of his affection. Bill wanted the business but his kindness was real. He offered his carriage for two dollars an hour. The narrator was happy to pay to such a good fellow. Bill assured the narrator that he knew about all the places where Lutkins usually could be found out. The narrator began to feel that Bill had made it his own task to find Oliver Lutkins for him.
Q26. Why did the narrator feel that ‘Bill seemed to admire Lutkins for dishonesty? Why did he feel that if he had been a policeman, he would have regretted sending him to jail?
Ans. Bill told the narrator that Oliver Lutkins was “not really bad”. He was a hard fellow to be caught. He was always up to something or the other. He played a lot of pokers. He was good at deceiving people. The narrator felt that Bill seemed to admire Lutkins’ talent for dishonesty. Had he been a policeman, he would have regretted sending Bill to jail.
Q27. Why did the narrator and Bill proceed to Fritz and why did Bill ask him to keep out of sight behind him?
Ans. Bill told the narrator that probably Oliver Lutkins was trying to start a poker game in the back of Fritz’s shop. Bill led him there and he asked the narrator to hide behind him. Fritz hesitated and then admitted that Lutkins was there a little while ago. Bill kept the narrator behind him because he didn’t want him to talk to any person directly. Had he done so, Bill would have been exposed at once that he was playing a double role. He was Lutkins himself.
Q28. What information did the narrator get after visiting Gustaf? Gray’s barber shops and other places in New Mullion?
Ans. They drove to Gustaf’s barbershop. Again Bill entered first. The lawyer remained at the door. Gustaff replied angrily that he hadn’t seen him. If they found him, they could collect the money he owed him. Then, Bill took him to Gray’s shop. Perhaps, Lutkins had gone there for a shave. They were told that they missed Lutkins by only five minutes. They got the same answer at the pool room and elsewhere in the town.
Q29. Why did the narrator feel that Bill’s helpfulness for him was not entirely of brotherly love?
Ans. The narrator began to understand that Bill’s helpfulness for him was not completely of brotherly love. He was a perfect businessman. The narrator paid him for six hours, including the lunch hour. Bill was paid 2 dollars for an hour. But the narrator realised that Bill was not more dishonest than him. He charged the whole amount from the firm.
Q30. Why did Bill take the narrator to Bill’s terrible mother in the end? Why had she once ‘almost’ taken Bill’s skin off?
Ans. In the end, Bill saved a friend of Oliver Lutkins. He made him admit that Oliver had gone to his mother’s farm. Bill told the narrator that Oliver Lutkins’ mother was a terror. Once, they faced her anger because she felt that Bill had not handled her trunk with proper care. She almost took out his skin because she was 9 feet tall and 4 feet thick with quick reflexes like a cat.
Q31. Describe the narrator’s encounter with Lutkins’ terrible mother. Why was he asked to move out immediately by Bill?
Ans. Bill drove the narrator into a poor farmyard. There they were faced by a huge and cheerful old woman. Bill bravely went up to her and asked about her son, Oliver Lutkins. She shouted that she didn’t know anything about him. Bill told her that they had a legal right to search the house. This made her famous. She went inside and came out with an iron rod from the hearth. She threatened to burn them alive if they dared to do such a thing. Bill asked the narrator to go out at once before she could murder them.
Q32. Why did the narrator worry very little about his failure and considered returning to New Mullion to practice law?
Ans. The narrator worried very little about his failure to trace Oliver Lutkins. He was busy thinking about Bill Magnuson. He considered returning to New Mullion to practise law. After all, he could find such honest and human people like Bill only in New Mullion. He would feel honoured to have soft-spoken and wise neighbours like Fritz and Gustaff and a hundred others. He pictured an honest, happy and a new way of life there.
Q33. How did the narrator’s boss react to his failure in tracing Oliver Lutkins?
Ans. The narrator couldn’t trace Oliver Lutkins in New Mullion. The people in the company were upset. The case was coming up in court. The narrator felt himself a ‘shameful, useless fool.’ He felt his promising legal career coming to an end before it had begun. The chief almost ‘murdered’ him. He hinted that he might do well at digging trenches. He was ordered back to New Mullion with a man who had worked with Oliver Lutkins.
Q34. What happened at the railway platform when the narrator saw Bill standing with Oliver’s mother on his second visit to New Mullion?
Ans. The narrator was on his second visit to New Mullion. He was with a man who had worked with Lutkins. When the train arrived at the station, the narrator saw Bill standing at the platform with Oliver Lutkins’ mother. They were talking and laughing freely. He introduced his companion to Bill and praised him for helping him in hunting Oliver Lutkins. The man recognised Lutkins. He declared that the hack driver was not Bill but Oliver Lutkins himself.
Q35. Why did Oliver Lutkins and his mother laugh at the lawyer (the narrator) when he served the summons? Why did Lutkins take him to his neighbour’s house for a cup of coffee?
Ans. When the narrator served summons, Lutkins was not at all worried. On the other hand, the narrator was hurt that they laughed at him as if he were a seven-year-old boy. Then, Lutkins begged the narrator to accompany them to one of his neighbours for a cup of coffee. He said sarcastically that all the people of New Mullion had met such a (gullible and novice) person like the narrator. They were the only people in the town that missed seeing him.
36. What job did the narrator get after graduation? Did he like his work?
Ans. After graduating, the narrator got a job as a junior assistant clerk at a law firm. He went on surveillance missions with dirty areas in the city where he did not enjoy his work.
37. (i) Why was he happy to go to New Mullion? Why did he go there?
Ans. The author was sick of the city life. He was happy to go to New Mullion because he thought that he would get peace and natural beauty there. He went there to serve summons to a person named Oliver Lutkins.
(ii) Why did the lawyer find the sight at the station “agreeable”?
Ans. At New Mullion, the lawyer found the streets flooded with mud. The only agreeable sight was the delivery man he met at the station. He was cheerful and friendly.
38. How did the hack driver sketch the character of Lutkins?
Ans. The hack driver said that Lutkins was a very dishonest fellow. He was very good at deceiving people. It was hard to catch him. He loved playing poker. He owed money to many but did not pay anybody a cent because he did not like to part with money.
39. With what impression did the lawyer come back to the city?
Ans. The lawyer was glad, but also a little apprehensive. He was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to find Lutkin in New Mullion, where people typically speak slowly and helpfully. The lawyer even wanted to start his law practice at New Mullion.
40. How did the people at the law firm receive him?
Ans. The people at the law time were very angry with him over his failure. They called him a useless fool. The chief of the firm almost murdered him. He said that he might do well at digging ditches.
41. Why was he sent back to New Mullion? Who went with him?
Ans. Lutkins was badly needed as a witness in a case in the court the next morning. So the narrator was sent back to serve the summons to Lutkins. A man who recognised Lutkins went with him.
42. Who was the hack driver? What really hurt the feelings of the narrator?
Ans. In reality, the hack driver was Oliver Lutkins himself. He took the narrator the whole day in his carriage looking for Oliver Lutkins. The narrator’s feelings were hurt because Lutkins and his mother laughed at him as though he was a bright boy of seven years.
43. How did the hack driver offer to help the narrator?
Ans. The driver suggested that I could help a lot in tracking down the where abouts of Lutkin. He said he knew where to find him but would charge me for it.
44. How did the hack driver come to know why the lawyer was hunting for Lutkins?
Ans. The hack driver told the lawyer that if he tried to collect money from him in those fancy clothes, he would be suspicious and run away. The lawyer took him into his confidence and told him that he wanted to serve the summons on Lutkins.
45. How did the narrator learn the truth about the hack driver?
Ans. The owner of the law firm in the city sent hack the narrator to New Mullion immediately. A man who knew Lutkins was also sent with him. When they reached the station, the hack driver was standing there near his carriage. The man pointed out that the hack driver was Lutkins.
Long Answer Type Questions of the Lesson – The Hack Driver
1. The hack driver misguided the lawyer and led him on the wrong path How could the lawyer be proactive?
Or
The hack driver pretended that he was looking for Lukens when he was Lukens himself in real life. How did Lukens make the lawyer a wise person?
Ans. Drives the lawyer to places like Mustafa’s Beninese restaurant, a barber shop, Barbershop III Gray’s, the Pool Room, and his mom’s farm. The hack driver charged him two dollars an time for all of his visits. The driver himself talked badly about Lukens and did not allow him to meet anyone directly. The lawyer should protect himself and the firm better in some aspects. Instead, he probably enjoyed a whole day out of the cost which proves that he was selfish. He should not hide behind the hack driver but should directly talk to the villagers. Instead, he leads the visit and delegates this responsibility to the hack driver, which would be beneficial for him instead of worsening the situation.
2. Why do you think the lawyer was happy to take summons to New Mullion? How did the lawyer develop a perception about Lukens? If you would have been in the lawyer’s place, what would have been your reaction towards Bill’s statements?
Ans. The narrator was happy to go to New Mullion. He thought it must be a beautiful and calm village. He considered Lukens a friendly fellow. He liked his openness, warmth and affection. He took his kindness to be real. He was impressed by his ever of help although the hack driver was doing his business and earning handsome money from the lawyer.
If I had been in the lawyer’s place I never considered Bill’s statement true. I would have counter checked his statement by talking to other persons of the village. I would not have spent the whole day with a single person in search of Lukens, but rather consulted different people to find Lukens.
3. Attempt the character sketch of the hack driver?
Ans.
He was introduced to the narrator as Lukens when he had come to meet him on reaching New Mullion. The man turned out to be Lukens himself, but when he realized what they were there for, he offered his help in finding someone by charging twice the going rate. He had a kind and jolly character who played practical jokes on the lawyer. When he learned that it wasn’t actual Lukens, he introduced himself as Bill and charged two pounds per hour for lunch and the food that he got from his wife. Though, this man was clever, witty and entertaining with a hidden wisdom about New Mullion.
4. Describe the encounter of the young lawyer with the hack driver in the village.
Or
Narrate the narrator’s first visit to New Mullion.
Ans. The author/lawyer was sent to New Mullion to serve summons to Lukens. At the station, he met a cheerful hack driver who was Lukens himself. He took advantage of the situation as the author who had never met Lukens before could not identify him. The fun-loving Lukens introduced himself as Bill. He offered him all his help to find Lukens. He took him all over the village but in vain. He entertained the author with his lucid description of the village folk, charged him two dollars per hour and half a dollar for food. The author was impressed by the warm affection, kind and helpful nature of Bill and the hospitality and cooperation of the villagers. He thought of leaving his present job and starting his legal practice at New Mullion.
Q6. Why was the narrator sent to New Mullion? Why didn’t he succeed in his mission on his first visit?
Ans. The narrator was a junior assistant clerk in a magnificent legal firm. His job was not to prepare legal briefs but to serve the summons. He was sent to New Mullion, a country town about forty miles away from his city. He was to serve a summons on a person named Oliver Lutkins. Lutkins was needed in a legal case as a witness.
The narrator’s first visit to New Mullion was a complete failure. He couldn’t find even a trace of Oliver Lutkins. Actually, the delivery man and the hack driver Bill, who met him at the station, was responsible for this failure. Bill be-friended the lawyer assuring him that he knew the places where Lutkins usually used to hang about. He told a lie that he had seen Lutkins just an hour ago. Then, Bill drove the narrator to the different parts of the town and meeting different people there. Actually, Bill planned the whole false drama the moment he came to know that the narrator was searching for Oliver Lutkins. Everywhere he went, he kept the narrator standing behind him at the door. He didn’t allow him to interrogate people directly about Lutkins. They drove to Fritz’s, to Gustaf’s, Gray’s barber shop and to the poolroom. Everywhere they got the same answer that Lutkins had left only a while ago. All this was preplanned by Bill and the search was bound to end in failure.
Q7. Give a character-sketch of the narrator or the lawyer of the story, ‘The Hack Driver’?
Ans. The narrator was a junior assistant clerk in a magnificent law firm. His work was not to prepare legal briefs but to serve the summons. The narrator was fed up with his job as he had to visit many dirty and shadowy corners of the city. On several occasions, he was attacked and beaten up by musclemen and toughs of these areas. He even considered fleeing to his country town.
The narrator was highly gullible. He didn’t behave like a seasoned legal mind. He was so much impressed with Bill that he became totally dependent on him. He failed to keep his mission a secret to himself. By disclosing that he had come to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins, he gave the crafty and clever Bill enough space and time to confuse and misdirect his search. Bill, who was Oliver Lutkins himself, drove him aimlessly without allowing the narrator to talk directly to the people. He feared lest he should be exposed.
The narrator had a romantic yearning for country life and its people. After his first visit, he didn’t mind his failure but planned to come to New Mullion again to start his legal practice there. The narrator proved himself a novice and not a seasoned legal mind. When he served summons, Lutkins and his mother laughed at him as if he were a seven-year-old boy.
Q8. Draw a character sketch of Oliver Lutkins as told by the hack driver, Bill.
Or
How did the hack driver sketch the character of Lutkins?
Ans. The hack driver, Bill, who was Oliver Lutkins himself, does help us drawing a character-sketch of Oliver Lutkins. Being a good talker, Bill gave a detailed description of Oliver Lutkins and his activities to the narrator. Bill told the narrator that Lutkins was a hard fellow to be caught. He was always up to something or the other. He was deeply interested in poker. Probably, he was trying to start up a poker game in the back of Fritz’s shop.
Bill told that Oliver Lutkins never paid anybody a cent. He still owed Bill fifty cents on a poker game. Lutkins was not really bad, but it was hard to make him part with his money. Bill also told that Lutkins had a talent for dishonesty. Lutkins’ mother was a terror and he had gone to his mother’s farm to hide behind his mother’s skirts,
Oliver Lutkins’ real character was exposed when his real identity was revealed. Bill was actually acting as Oliver Lutkins. When summons was served, Lutkins and his mother laughed at the narrator as if he were a seven-year-old boy. Lutkins outwitted, outsmarted and outmanoeuvred the narrator. Clever and cunning, Lutkins proved that the gullible narrator was just a novice before a seasoned crook like him.
Q9.Give a character sketch of Bill, the hack driver, in your own words.
Ans.Bill, though Oliver Lutkins himself, has a distinct personality as a hack driver. According to the narrator, Bill was the only ‘agreeable sight’ about the place. He was about forty, red-faced, cheerful and thick about the middle. His working clothes were dirty and well worn. Bill’s manners were friendly.
Bill had all the arts with him to win the confidence of gullible people like the narrator. He befriended the narrator and convinced him that he would not be able to trace Oliver Lutkins without his help. Bill knew how to confuse and misdirect the people from their real mission. The moment he came to know that the narrator had come to New Mullion to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins, he made a plan to befool the narrator by taking him to different people and places. Whether Fritz or Gustaff or Gray, all were tutored by Bill to say what he wanted them to say.
Bill was a great schemer. He didn’t allow the narrator to come in direct touch with the people and question them about Oliver Lutkins. He always asked him to stand behind him.
Bill played a double role as a perfect actor. When his identity was exposed, he laughed at the narrator as if he was a seven-year-old boy. Actually, Bill or Oliver Lutkins himself, outwitted and outmanoeuvred the gullible narrator.
Q10. How did the hack driver outwit and befool the lawyer (the narrator)? What impression do you form of the narrator after both visits to New Mullion?
Or
Bill or Oliver Lutkins was a complete contrast to the narrator. How did a seasoned crook like Lutkins outwit the gullible lawyer proving him a novice and just a bright boy of seven?
Ans. Certainly, both the main characters of the story are totally different. Bill or Lutkins manoeuvres and plots under the garb of friendliness. The narrator is outwitted and deceived due to his gullibility. Bill (Lutkins) knows how to confuse and misdirect the narrator’s search for Oliver Lutkins. He befriends the lawyer convincing him that he is the only person in New Mullion who can help him in finding out Oliver Lutkins. He overpowers the narrator’s capacity for reasoning and thinking. The narrator becomes a soft target of cunning Lutkins. He allows giving Lutkins all the space and time that he needed to plan out and scheme things. The narrator became just a willing puppet in Bill’s hands. Actually, he danced to his tunes. Bill’s pretensions clouded the narrator’s wisdom and sense of discretion. Bill (Lutkins) was not a crook and fraud but an honest man full of human values for him. The cunning Lutkins had the last laugh. When the narrator served summons, Lutkins and his mother laughed as if he were a seven-year-old boy.
Q11. How were the summons finally served on Lutkins? How did Lutkins and his mother react on that occasion?
Ans. On his first visit, in spite of his efforts and pains, the lawyer (the narrator) failed to trace Oliver Lutkins. The gullible narrator was bound to fail in his mission. He was not allowed to know that Bill himself was Oliver Lutkins. At every stage, he was misdirected and confused. The crafty hack driver never allowed him to question and meet the people directly. He always kept him behind him. Only on his second visit, he succeeded in his mission. The Chief sent a man with him. That man recognised Lutkins and had worked with him. At the station, when the lawyer introduced Bill, his companion told that Bill was no one else but Oliver Lutkins himself. In this way, the lawyer was able to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins.
When the summons was served, Oliver Lutkins and his mother laughed at the lawyer or the narrator. They laughed as if he were a bright seven-year-old boy. And this was exactly what he proved. The cunning crook Lutkins had the last laugh.
Q12. Describe the narrator’s encounter with Oliver Lutkins’ mother at her farm. Was it a planned and fake drama? Give a reasoned answer.
Ans. When they couldn’t trace Oliver Lutkins anywhere in New Mullion, Bill directed the lawyer to his last visit to Oliver Lutkins’ mother. Her farm was three miles north to the town. Bill told the lawyer that Lutkins must have heard that somebody was chasing him. Perhaps, Lutkins had gone to his mother’s farm “to hide behind his mother’s skirts. Bill also told him that Lutkins’ mother was a terrible woman.
They drove to the farmhouse. They were faced with an enormous and cheerful old woman. Bill bravely went to her. He informed her that her son, Oliver Lutkins, was needed as a witness in a
legal case. The woman told bluntly that she didn’t know anything about Lutkins. Bill pressed for searching the house as it was their legal right. Lutkins’ mother went inside and came out with an iron rod from the old stove to attack them. Bill advised the lawyer to get out of there to avoid being murdered by her. So, the last hope of tracing Oliver Lutkins also ended in smoke.
The encounter was staged by the cunning Bill himself. As he was Oliver Lutkins himself, playing the role of Bill, he didn’t want to be traced. This drama was enacted only to confuse and misdirect the lawyer from his real search.
13. Describe the narrator’s first visit to New Mullion.
Or
Describe the young lawyer’s first encounter with the hack driver.
Ans. The narrator was a junior assistant clerk in a law firm in the city. Once he was sent to New Mullion to serve summons to a person named Oliver Lutkins. He reached New Mullion by train. At the station, he met a hack driver. He seemed to be helpful and friendly. The narrator told him that he wanted to see Lutkins very urgently. The hack driver was Lutkins himself. He told the narrator that he knew all the places very well where Lutkins could be found. The narrator hired him at the rate of two dollars per hour.
The hack driver drove the narrator for six hours in New Mullion in search of Lutkins. He kept the narrator behind him. He was so cunning that he tutored the people about his plan. Everybody said that Lutkins was there a little while ago and had just gone away. The narrator had to return back to the city without finding Lutkins.
14. How were the summons served to Lutkins?
Ans. The narrator’s first trip to New Mullion was a disappointing failure. The chief attorney of the law firm was furious with him because he had failed to send Oliver Lutkins back home. The next morning, Lutkins was a vital witness in a key case and the firm needed him urgently. So the narrator was sent back to New Mullion, where he found an old man whom he knew from Lutkins’ youth standing near his carriage. The old man turned out to be the legitimate Oliver Lutkins. He delivered the summons for service, and served it personally so that there would be no mistake about this time.
15. Write a character sketch of the lawyer. [H.B.S.E. March. 2017 (Set-D)]
Ans. The lawyer was a fresh graduate from a university. He got a job as a junior assistant clerk in a law firm. His duty was to serve the summons. He did not like his job. He liked simple, honest and friendly people. He got very happy when he was asked to go to New Mullion. He loved natural beauty. He liked New Mullion and its people very much. He considered starting his law practice at New Mullion. He was a simple-hearted man. He was easily taken for a ride by the hack driver. He could not see the trick of the hackman behind his friendly behaviour. But he was a man of self-respect. His feelings were hurt when Lutkins and his mother laughed at him as he was a bright boy of seven years.
16. What did the hack driver tell the narrator about Lutkins’ mother?
Ans. A hack driver tells the narrator that Lutkins’s mother is a terror. He says she is about nine feet tall and four feet thick, and that once he had to take a trunk for her at her farmhouse. She could have taken his skin off because he didn’t treat the trunk like a box of eggs. He said to him that she was as quick as a cat. He told the narrator that if Lutkins’s mother heard from anywhere that someone was looking for her son, she would be even more dangerous. The hack driver made the narrator more scared to tell Lutkins’ mother would be dangerous.
