A Question of Trust

A Question of Trust 1.Why was it not difficult for Horace to open the safe?

ANS:     It was not difficult for Horace to open the safe because he was a perfect and experienced locksmith. He had collected all the information about the safe before entering the house.

2.What advice did the lady give Horace regarding his hay fever? Was she really interested in his health?

ANS:     The lady advised Horace that he could find a cure to the hay fever by trying to find which plant gave the disease. She was not interested in his disease or its cure, but she was rather making fun of him.

3.Why did Horace Danby feel sure of his success in that year’s robbery?

ANS:     Horace Danby felt sure of his success in that year’s robbery too, because he had planned his work carefully. He studied every detail of the house. He had chosen an appropriate place and time for the robbery.

4.What does the writer tell us about Horace Danby’s life?

ANS:     Horace Danby was not a typical thief. He used to rob every year enough money to last for twelve months to buy books which he loved to read. He is described as a good and respectable person but not completely honest because he could not curb his habit of stealing a safe every year.

5.Why did Horace rob every year? Was he a typical thief? If so, why? In what way could Horace’s arrest have helped the lady?

ANS:     He robbed every year enough money to last for twelve months to buy books which he loved to read. No, he was not a typical thief because he used to steal only to buy interesting books.

6.Did the young lady expect Horace to be caught after the theft?

ANS:     Yes, the young lady knew that Horace would be caught. As he forgot to put on his gloves. Naturally his finger prints would lead the police towards him. Horace’s arrest would not let anyone think that she was the thief. So she was to be benefitted by his arrest.

7.Was Horace a typical thief? Why/Why not?

ANS:     No, Horace was not a typical thief. He robbed only once in a year to have enough money to last for twelve months. He was fond of expensive books which he used to buy from the stolen money. Otherwise, he was considered as an honest and respectable person.

8.How did Horace know about the safe behind the painting?

ANS:     A magazine article had described this house giving a plan of all the rooms and a picture of this room. Even the fact that the safe was hidden behind a picture was given there.

9. Horace was a thief who planned his work carefully. He was in a way a sucesssful thief. Should we call him a successful thief and appreciate his work? Why/Why not?

ANS:     Horace Danby was a good, honest citizen of about 50 years. He planned his work carefully. He was a meticulous planner. He used to observe and supervise the house to be burgled. He never acted in haste. He studied the map and other minute details of the house at Shotover Grange. He had the details of electric wiring, dogs and servants of the house. He knew when it was the right time to strike. He did his work so well that there was no cause of his arrest. No doubt he was a successful thief but his act of theft can not be appreciated. Stealing is a vice which can not be appreciated. To fulfil our needs we should not resort to theft.

10. Do you think Horace Danby was unfairly punished or that he deserved what he got? Do you agree that honesty in wrong acts is not desirable?

ANS:The story, ‘A Question of Trust’ is a story of distrust. The lady in the red is the real culprit. She was a very clever lady and was successful in befooling Horace. She made him believe that she was the mistress of the house and told him a story with conviction. Horace had taken off his gloves, because he thought that the wife of the owner was with him. That was the biggest mistake of his life. Horace Danby left his fingerprints and was arrested. He was not punished unfairly. He was not innocent as he entered the house with the intention to rob the house. Honesty in wrong acts can not be justified. It is not desirable at all.

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

ANS:  The lady is very smart and clever. She succeeds in befooling Horace Danby that she is the owner of the house. She is a well dressed, well planned and organised thief who drafted her trick so meticulously that a brilliant thief like Horace could not suspect her. The way she enters and talks to Horace Danby, he is unable to doubt her integrity. Even the dog did not bark on seeing her. The lady in red had some negative traits in her personality. She was not honest. She was a thief and befooled another thief. She lacked honesty, integrity and honour.

12. “Horace Danby was good and respectable – but not completely honest.” Why do you think this description is apt for Horace? Why can’t he be categorised as a typical thief? Should we call him a good human being?

ANS:     The statement is an apt statement for Danby. He was a respectable person, but he was a thief who in order to fulfil his desire used to rob once in a year. He had adopted a dishonest way to fulfil his desire. So he cannot be called an honest person. Horace Danby is not a typical thief because he steals mainly to buy rare and expensive books. He planned his theft in such a manner that he could not be arrested so far. Being an introvert, he did not blurt about his theft to anybody. No, we can’t call him a good human being. He was a victim of the trick played on him. He is not completely honest. He entered the house with bad intention. He was a thief and a thief can not be called a good human being.

13.“Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered.” Where did he go wrong and why? Negative values never pay in long run: Do you agree?

ANS:     Though Horace Danby was a brilliant thief, he was caught in the end. He faltered because he readily handed over jewellery to the so-called owner of the house. Horace Danby was befooled by the lady in red. She pretended to be the owner of the house and made him open the safe without gloves. Horace left his fingerprints. He failed in his plan and was caught for a crime that he did not commit. Negative values never pay in the long run. Every criminal has his punishment. Sooner or later one is caught and punished. Horace Danby was no doubt a meticulous planner but he was on a wrong path. His intention had never been good. He planned to rob others and was ultimately paid for it.

14. The lady in red dress was a more professional thief than Horace Danby. Do you agree? Elaborate.

ANS:     The lady in red not only outsmarted Horace Danby rather she went one step forward to ensure that all the evidence went against Horace to establish him as the real culprit and the lady walked out freely and untraceably. The lady combined her female arrogance and confidence to prepare a perfect recipe to befool Horace as he could not suspect that she was not the real lady of house. The lady tricked Horace Danby to utilise his years of experience in theft for her own benefit and Horace on the basis of his fingerprints was put behind the bars. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< End >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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