A Question of Trust
By Victor Canning (Class 10 – CBSE)
Quick Overview
- Protagonist: Horace Danby – A 50-year-old locksmith, outwardly respectable but dishonest at heart.
- Antagonist: The Lady in Red – A clever, confident con artist.
- Theme: Appearances can be deceptive; there is no real honour among thieves.
1. Summary (English)
Horace Danby was a respectable citizen and a successful locksmith of about fifty years. Though he appeared honest, he secretly robbed one safe every year to support his expensive hobby of collecting rare books. He planned his crimes carefully and stole only from rich people.
This year, Horace targeted a house called Shotover Grange. After observing the house for two weeks and ensuring that the owners were in London and the servants were away, he broke in. While opening the safe, he was surprised by a young, confident lady dressed in red. She claimed to be the owner’s wife.
The lady threatened to call the police but cleverly struck a deal. She said she needed her jewels for a party and had forgotten the safe’s code. Afraid of being caught, Horace agreed to help her. In his nervousness, he removed his gloves and opened the safe.
Two days later, Horace was arrested. His fingerprints were found everywhere. The real owner of the house was an elderly woman. The lady in red was actually a thief who had tricked Horace and escaped with the jewels, leaving him to face prison.
2. Summary in Hindi (हिन्दी सारांश)
होरिस डैनबी लगभग 50 वर्ष का एक ताले बनाने वाला था। वह बाहर से एक ईमानदार और सम्मानित व्यक्ति लगता था, लेकिन वास्तव में वह साल में एक बार चोरी करता था। उसे दुर्लभ और महंगी किताबें इकट्ठा करने का शौक था और उसी के लिए वह चोरी करता था।
इस बार उसने Shotover Grange नामक घर को चुना। परिवार लंदन गया हुआ था और नौकर फिल्म देखने गए थे। जब वह तिजोरी खोलने ही वाला था, तभी लाल कपड़े पहने एक युवा महिला वहां आ गई। उसने खुद को घर की मालकिन बताया।
महिला ने पुलिस बुलाने की धमकी दी, लेकिन एक शर्त रखी कि अगर होरिस तिजोरी खोल देगा तो वह उसे जाने देगी। डर के कारण होरिस ने अपने दस्ताने उतार दिए और तिजोरी खोल दी।
दो दिन बाद पुलिस ने होरिस को पकड़ लिया क्योंकि उसके उंगलियों के निशान हर जगह थे। बाद में पता चला कि असली मालकिन एक बूढ़ी महिला थी। लाल कपड़ों वाली महिला भी एक चोर थी जिसने होरिस को धोखा देकर फंसा दिया।
3. Important Questions & Answers (CBSE Exam-Oriented)
Short Answer Questions (2–3 Marks)
Q1. Why did Horace Danby steal only once a year?
Ans: Horace stole only once a year because he needed money only to buy rare and expensive books. He was not a habitual criminal and planned his thefts carefully.
Q2. What made Horace trust the lady in red?
Ans: Horace trusted her because she appeared confident, calm, and well-dressed. She behaved like the owner of the house and did not panic on seeing him.
Long Answer Questions (5–6 Marks)
Q3. Describe how the lady in red was smarter than Horace Danby.
Ans: The lady in red was smarter because she remained calm, confident, and quick-thinking. She created a believable story, threatened Horace psychologically, and made him open the safe without gloves. In the end, she escaped with the jewels while Horace was arrested.
Q4. ‘The story teaches that appearances can be deceptive.’ Explain with reference to the story.
Ans: Horace appeared respectable but was a thief. Similarly, the lady appeared refined and innocent but was a clever criminal. Both characters prove that appearances cannot be trusted.
Value-Based Question (Important for CBSE)
Q5. What values does the story highlight through Horace Danby’s mistake?
Ans: The story highlights the importance of honesty and caution. Horace’s dishonesty and blind trust led to his downfall. The story teaches that
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