Class 10 English Chapter 3 Question Answer | The Midnight Visitor
Welcome to HSLC Guru. In this article, we provide a complete set of questions and answers for Class 10 English Footprints without Feet Chapter 3 – The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur. This chapter is an important part of the ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education) Class 10 English syllabus. Here you will find the summary, textbook solutions (Think about it and Talk about it), additional short and long answer questions, MCQs, extract-based questions, and value-based questions to help you prepare thoroughly for your HSLC examination.
Summary of The Midnight Visitor
“The Midnight Visitor” is a suspenseful short story written by Robert Arthur. It revolves around Ausable, a secret agent who does not fit the conventional image of a spy. He is fat, lives in a small room on the sixth (top) floor of a gloomy French hotel, and speaks French and German with a heavy American accent even after living in Paris for over twenty years. He receives information through routine telephone calls rather than through glamorous or dramatic means.
Fowler, a young and romantic writer, visits Ausable hoping to witness thrilling espionage adventures. However, he is deeply disappointed by Ausable’s ordinary and unglamorous appearance. Ausable assures Fowler that he will soon receive an important report concerning some new missiles — a document so significant that several people have risked their lives for it.
When they enter Ausable’s room and switch on the light, they find Max, a slender and menacing rival secret agent, standing in the middle of the room with a small automatic pistol in his hand. Max has entered using a passkey and demands that Ausable hand over the report when it arrives. Ausable remains remarkably calm. Instead of panicking, he angrily complains about a balcony beneath his window, claiming that this is the second time someone has broken into his room through it. He describes how the balcony belongs to the adjoining room of an empty apartment and that the hotel management had promised to block it off but had not done so.
At that moment, there is a sudden knock on the door. Ausable quickly announces that it must be the police, explaining that he had requested them to check on him because of the important document he was expecting. Max becomes nervous and alarmed. Not wanting to be caught by the police, Max decides to escape through the window to the balcony below and hide there until they leave. He steps onto the window sill and drops down — but there is no balcony. Max screams as he falls from the sixth floor.
The door opens and it is not the police at all — it is only the waiter bringing the drinks that Ausable had ordered earlier. Fowler stands speechless, realizing that Ausable had brilliantly fabricated two lies — the existence of the balcony and the arrival of the police — and used them to outwit and eliminate Max without firing a single shot. The story powerfully demonstrates that intelligence, presence of mind, and quick thinking are far more effective weapons than brute force or firearms.
Word Meanings / Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Musty | Stale; having a damp, mouldy smell |
| Espionage | The practice of spying or using spies to obtain secret information |
| Passably | Moderately; to an acceptable extent but not very well |
| Wheezed | Breathed with difficulty, making a whistling sound |
| Disillusioned | Disappointed; freed from false beliefs or expectations |
| Authentic | Genuine; real; not false |
| Slender | Thin; slim |
| Menacing | Threatening; suggesting danger |
| Automatic | A type of self-loading pistol |
| Sill | A flat horizontal piece of wood or stone at the bottom of a window frame |
| Deftly | Skilfully; neatly; with quick movements |
| Stammered | Spoke with sudden involuntary pauses and repetitions |
| Countenance | A person’s face or facial expression |
| Passkey | A master key that can open several locks |
| Intruder | A person who enters a place without permission |
| Gloomy | Dark; poorly lit; depressing |
Think about it (Textbook Questions and Answers)
Q1. “Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read.” What do secret agents in books and films look like, in your opinion? Discuss in groups or in class some of the best-known secret agents from books or films.
Ans: In books and films, secret agents are usually portrayed as tall, handsome, well-built, and extremely stylish individuals. They dress in expensive suits, drive fast cars, use advanced gadgets and weapons, and are surrounded by beautiful and glamorous companions. They are physically fit, highly trained in martial arts and combat, and always appear cool and composed even in the most dangerous situations. Some of the best-known fictional secret agents include James Bond (from Ian Fleming’s novels and films), Jason Bourne (from Robert Ludlum’s novels), Ethan Hunt (from the Mission Impossible film series), and Feluda (from Satyajit Ray’s Bengali detective stories). However, Ausable is the complete opposite of all these characters — he is fat, sloppy, lives in a dingy hotel room, speaks with an American accent, and looks nothing like a spy. Yet, he proves to be far more intelligent and resourceful than any of them through his quick thinking and presence of mind.
Q2. How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room? Look back at his description of it. What makes it a convincing story?
Ans: Ausable manages to make Max believe in the existence of a balcony through a highly detailed and convincing fabrication. He angrily tells Max that this is the second time in a month that somebody has entered his room through the balcony. He explains that the balcony is not part of his room but belongs to the next apartment. He describes how his room used to be part of a larger apartment and that the balcony extends under his window from the adjoining empty room, which can be reached from the corridor two doors down. He also mentions that he has complained to the hotel management and that they had promised to block it off but have not yet done so. The story is convincing because of three reasons: first, Ausable provides specific details about the layout and history of the apartment, making it sound authentic; second, his tone of anger and frustration about the balcony makes it seem like a genuine and recurring problem; and third, Max has no way of verifying the claim without looking out of the window, which he does not bother to do until it is too late.
Q3. Looking back at the story, when do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max? Do you think he had worked out his plan in advance, or did he think it up releasing the events unfolded?
Ans: Ausable did not plan his strategy in advance. He thought it up as events unfolded, improvising brilliantly under pressure. When he first saw Max in the room, he immediately began his deception by inventing the story of the balcony. He pretended to be angry about the balcony being used as an entry point, thereby planting the idea of its existence in Max’s mind. Then, when there was an unexpected knock at the door, Ausable seized the opportunity and claimed it was the police whom he had called for extra security because of the important document. This created a sense of urgency and panic in Max. The combination of these two fabricated stories — the balcony and the police — made Max jump out of the window to escape to a balcony that did not exist. Ausable’s genius lay in his ability to think on his feet and use unfolding events to his advantage. He turned every situation — the knock at the door, the layout of the room — into a weapon against Max, demonstrating exceptional presence of mind.
Talk about it
Q1. In this story, Ausable shows great presence of mind to get rid of Max. Give another example of when someone showed great presence of mind, either from real life, or from a book or film you have read or seen.
Ans: A good example of presence of mind can be found in the play “If I Were You” by Douglas James. In this play, a criminal named Gerrard breaks into a playwright’s house with the intention of killing him and assuming his identity. However, Gerrard remains completely calm. Instead of panicking, he fabricates a story about being a criminal himself who is about to be arrested by the police. He tells the intruder that the police are on their way and suggests that they escape through the back door. When the intruder agrees, Gerrard leads him to a cupboard door instead of a real exit. The intruder is pushed inside and locked in. Gerrard then calls the police. Like Ausable, Gerrard used his quick thinking and calm composure to outsmart a dangerous armed intruder without resorting to violence.
Q2. Discuss what you would do in the following situations:
(i) A fire has started in your kitchen.
Ans: If a fire starts in the kitchen, the first thing to do is to stay calm and not panic. I would immediately turn off the gas supply to prevent the fire from spreading further. If the fire is small and manageable, I would try to smother it using a wet blanket, a fire extinguisher, or baking soda (for grease fires). I would never throw water on an oil or grease fire as that would cause it to spread dangerously. If the fire is too large to control, I would evacuate everyone from the house immediately and call the fire department. I would also make sure to close doors behind me to slow the spread of fire and smoke.
(ii) A child has fallen into a river.
Ans: If a child has fallen into a river, I would first call out for help loudly to alert people nearby. If I know how to swim and the current is not too strong, I would try to rescue the child myself. If I cannot swim, I would look for a long stick, rope, or any floating object to throw towards the child so that they can hold onto it and be pulled to safety. I would also immediately call the emergency services. After the child is rescued, I would check if they need CPR or first aid and keep them warm until medical help arrives.
(iii) Your friend is stuck in a burning building.
Ans: If my friend is stuck in a burning building, I would immediately call the fire department and provide them with the exact location and details. I would try to communicate with my friend by shouting or calling their phone to find out where they are in the building. I would advise them to stay low to avoid smoke inhalation, cover their nose and mouth with a wet cloth, and move towards the nearest exit or window. I would not attempt to enter the burning building myself as this could be extremely dangerous. If possible, I would help from outside by providing a ladder or cushioning material below a window for them to jump onto.
Read and Find Out (Textbook Questions)
Q1. How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
Ans: Ausable is different from other secret agents in several ways. He does not fit the typical image of a spy at all. He is extremely fat and lives in a small, musty room on the sixth and top floor of a gloomy French hotel, which is hardly the setting for a romantic adventure. Despite having lived in Paris for over twenty years, he has never lost his American accent and speaks French and German only passably. Instead of receiving secret messages from beautiful women, he gets only routine telephone calls to schedule appointments. He looks more like a teacher or a librarian than a secret agent. However, his extraordinary intelligence and presence of mind make him far more effective than any conventional spy.
Q2. Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day?
Ans: Fowler is a young and romantic writer who has come to meet Ausable expecting thrilling espionage adventures. He had imagined exciting encounters with dangerous criminals, car chases, and secret missions, but was deeply disappointed by Ausable’s ordinary and unglamorous appearance and lifestyle. His first authentic thrill of the day comes when they enter Ausable’s room and switch on the light to find a man — Max — standing halfway across the room with a small automatic pistol in his hand. This was the first genuinely exciting and dangerous moment Fowler experienced during his visit.
Q3. How has Max got in?
Ans: Max has got into Ausable’s room by using a passkey (a master key that can open several locks). He entered through the main door of the room while Ausable and Fowler were out and waited for them to return.
Q4. How does Ausable say Max got in?
Ans: Ausable does not acknowledge that Max entered through the door. Instead, he pretends to be angry and claims that Max must have entered through the balcony beneath his window. He says this is the second time in a month that somebody has broken into his room through that balcony. He explains that the balcony belongs to the next apartment and can be accessed from an empty room two doors down the corridor. He also mentions that the hotel management had promised to block it off but has not yet done so. In reality, there is no balcony at all — Ausable invents the entire story to deceive Max.
Additional Short Answer Questions
Q1. Who is Ausable? Describe his appearance.
Ans: Ausable is a secret agent who operates from Paris, France. He is an American who originally came from Boston about twenty years ago. He is extremely fat, and when he breathes, he wheezes. He lives in a small room on the sixth and top floor of a gloomy French hotel. His appearance is completely unlike that of a typical secret agent — he looks more like a teacher than a spy.
Q2. Why was Fowler disappointed when he met Ausable?
Ans: Fowler was disappointed because Ausable did not match his romantic idea of what a secret agent should look like. Fowler had expected a tall, handsome, and dashing spy involved in dangerous adventures with fast cars and beautiful women. Instead, he found a fat, wheezing man living in a small, musty hotel room on the top floor of a gloomy building in Paris. Ausable looked nothing like the spies Fowler had read about in books.
Q3. What was the important document that Ausable was expecting?
Ans: Ausable was expecting a very important report concerning some new missiles. This paper was so significant that several men and women had risked their lives for it. Ausable told Fowler that the document could well affect the course of history. It was this very document that Max was also trying to steal.
Q4. Who is Max? Why did he come to Ausable’s room?
Ans: Max is a rival secret agent who is slim, slender, and has a face that is fox-like in appearance. He came to Ausable’s room to steal the important report about new missiles that Ausable was expecting to receive. He entered the room using a passkey and waited there with a small automatic pistol to threaten Ausable into handing over the document.
Q5. What did Max want from Ausable?
Ans: Max wanted the important report about new missiles that Ausable was expecting to receive that night. He threatened Ausable with a pistol and demanded that Ausable hand over the document as soon as it was delivered to him. Max intended to take the report by force.
Q6. How did Ausable react when he saw Max in his room?
Ans: Unlike what one would expect, Ausable did not panic or show any sign of fear when he saw Max with a pistol. He remained remarkably calm and composed. He simply moved across the room to the table and turned on a light. Then, he looked at the man with a gun and wheezed a remark. He showed no alarm or anxiety, which demonstrated his extraordinary composure and self-control under pressure.
Q7. What story did Ausable fabricate about the balcony?
Ans: Ausable fabricated a detailed and convincing story about a balcony beneath his window. He said that his room was originally part of a larger apartment and that a balcony extended under his window from the next room, which now belonged to an empty apartment. He claimed that someone had entered his room through this balcony just a month ago, and that the hotel management had promised to block it off but had failed to do so. In reality, no such balcony existed at all.
Q8. Who knocked at the door? Who did Ausable say it was?
Ans: It was actually the hotel waiter who knocked at the door. He had come to deliver the drinks that Ausable had ordered earlier. However, Ausable told Max that it was the police. He said that he had requested the police to come and check on him that night because of the important report he was expecting. This lie created panic in Max’s mind and forced him to try to escape.
Q9. Why did Max jump out of the window?
Ans: Max jumped out of the window because he was convinced by Ausable’s two lies. First, he believed that there was a balcony beneath the window where he could hide. Second, he believed that the police were at the door and would arrest him if they found him. In his panic to avoid being caught, Max climbed onto the window sill and dropped down, expecting to land on the balcony. But there was no balcony, and he fell from the sixth floor, screaming as he went down.
Q10. What happened to Max after he jumped from the window?
Ans: After Max jumped from the window, he screamed loudly as he realized there was no balcony to land on. Since Ausable’s room was on the sixth and top floor of the hotel, Max fell to the ground below. The story implies that Max died or was seriously injured from the fall, though the author does not explicitly describe what happened to him after the fall.
Q11. What does the story reveal about the power of presence of mind?
Ans: The story reveals that presence of mind is the most powerful weapon a person can possess. Ausable was unarmed, physically unfit, and faced with a dangerous enemy who had a gun. Yet, he defeated Max using nothing but his intelligence and quick thinking. He fabricated two believable lies — about the balcony and the police — and used them to manipulate Max into jumping to his death. This shows that a calm and sharp mind can overcome even the most dangerous situations without the use of physical force or weapons.
Q12. How is the title “The Midnight Visitor” appropriate for the story?
Ans: The title “The Midnight Visitor” is highly appropriate for the story. The “midnight visitor” refers to Max, who is an uninvited intruder found waiting in Ausable’s room at night. He has entered secretly using a passkey and is waiting to steal a valuable document. The title creates a sense of mystery and suspense, which matches the thrilling atmosphere of the story. It hints at an unexpected encounter that takes place under the cover of night, which is exactly what happens in the narrative.
Q13. Compare and contrast the characters of Ausable and Max.
Ans: Ausable and Max are two secret agents who are very different from each other. Ausable is fat, sloppy, and looks nothing like a spy. He relies on his intelligence, quick thinking, and psychological manipulation to deal with dangerous situations. Max, on the other hand, is slim, slender, and has a menacing fox-like face. He relies on weapons and physical intimidation — he uses a pistol to threaten Ausable. However, despite his physical appearance and weapon, Max is outsmarted by Ausable’s superior intelligence. Ausable remains calm under pressure while Max panics when he hears the knock at the door. Ultimately, Ausable proves that brains are more powerful than brawn.
Q14. Why is Fowler’s view of Ausable completely changed by the end of the story?
Ans: At the beginning of the story, Fowler is deeply disappointed by Ausable’s appearance. He had expected a glamorous and dashing secret agent but found a fat, wheezing man in a dingy hotel room. However, by the end of the story, Fowler witnesses Ausable’s incredible intelligence and presence of mind as he outsmarts Max without using any weapon. Fowler sees how Ausable fabricates convincing lies, stays completely calm under threat, and manipulates a dangerous armed man into jumping out of a window. This transforms Fowler’s opinion of Ausable from disappointment to awe and admiration.
Q15. What role does Fowler play in the story?
Ans: Fowler plays the role of a narrator-observer in the story. He is a young writer who has come to meet Ausable to learn about the world of espionage. He serves as the reader’s representative — his initial disappointment mirrors what the reader might feel about Ausable, and his growing amazement reflects the reader’s own surprise at Ausable’s cleverness. Fowler does not contribute to the action directly but witnesses everything that happens, allowing the reader to experience the events through his eyes. His presence also gives Ausable someone to perform for, making the deception of Max more dramatic.
Q16. What would have happened if Max had checked the balcony before the knock on the door?
Ans: If Max had checked the window and looked down before the knock on the door, he would have discovered that there was no balcony at all. This would have exposed Ausable’s lie, and Max would have known that Ausable was trying to deceive him. In that case, Max would have become more suspicious and angry, and the situation could have become much more dangerous for Ausable and Fowler. Ausable’s plan succeeded precisely because the timely knock on the door distracted Max and created a sense of urgency, preventing him from verifying the existence of the balcony.
Q17. How did Ausable use the element of surprise to defeat Max?
Ans: Ausable used the element of surprise masterfully against Max. When Max expected Ausable to be afraid and submit to his demands, Ausable surprised him by remaining completely calm and even complaining about the balcony as if it were a mundane annoyance. Then, when the knock came at the door, Ausable surprised Max again by claiming it was the police. Max was not prepared for either of these developments. The combination of these unexpected twists left Max confused and panicked, ultimately leading him to make the fatal decision to jump out of the window. Ausable turned the tables on Max by being the one who controlled the narrative throughout the encounter.
Long Answer Questions (5-8 Marks)
Q1. Give a detailed character sketch of Ausable. How does he prove that appearance can be deceptive?
Ans: Ausable is one of the most memorable characters in the story “The Midnight Visitor” by Robert Arthur. He is a secret agent who operates from Paris, France. Originally from Boston, USA, he has been living in Paris for over twenty years but has never lost his American accent. He speaks French and German only passably.
Physically, Ausable is the complete opposite of what one would expect a secret agent to look like. He is extremely fat and wheezes when he breathes. He lives in a small, musty room on the sixth and top floor of a gloomy French hotel. His room is accessed through a dark and dingy corridor. There is nothing glamorous or exciting about his appearance or surroundings.
However, beneath this unimpressive exterior lies a brilliant and sharp mind. When confronted by Max, an armed rival agent, Ausable does not panic even for a moment. He demonstrates extraordinary presence of mind by quickly fabricating a detailed and believable story about a non-existent balcony. He then seizes the opportunity of the waiter’s knock to claim that the police have arrived. Through these two brilliant deceptions, he manipulates Max into jumping out of the sixth-floor window to his death — all without using any weapon or physical force.
Ausable proves the age-old saying that appearances can be deceptive. His fat, sloppy, and ordinary appearance is his greatest disguise. People like Max and Fowler underestimate him because he does not look or act like a conventional spy. But this underestimation becomes their weakness, as Ausable uses his superior intelligence to outmanoeuvre his enemies. He demonstrates that true power lies not in physical appearance or weapons but in the sharpness of one’s mind.
Q2. Describe how Ausable outwits Max. What qualities of Ausable are highlighted in the process?
Ans: Ausable outwits Max through a masterful display of intelligence, composure, and psychological manipulation. When Ausable and Fowler enter the room and find Max standing with a pistol, Ausable does not show any sign of fear or panic. Instead, he remains remarkably calm and immediately begins his plan of deception.
First, Ausable fabricates a convincing story about a balcony beneath his window. He angrily complains that this is the second time in a month that someone has entered his room through this balcony. He provides specific details — the balcony belongs to the next apartment, can be accessed from an empty room two doors down the corridor, and the hotel management has promised to block it off but has not done so. These vivid details make the story completely believable.
Then, when someone knocks at the door, Ausable seizes this unexpected opportunity. He calmly announces that it must be the police, whom he had called for extra security because of the important document he was expecting. This creates immediate panic in Max. Faced with the supposed arrival of the police and the supposed existence of a balcony, Max makes the fatal decision to escape through the window. He climbs onto the sill and drops down, only to discover — too late — that there is no balcony. He falls from the sixth floor with a terrified scream.
The qualities highlighted in this episode are: (i) exceptional calmness under extreme pressure, (ii) quick thinking and the ability to improvise, (iii) creativity in fabricating convincing lies, (iv) psychological insight into his enemy’s mind, and (v) the ability to use unexpected events to his advantage. Ausable proves that intelligence is the most powerful weapon a person can possess.
Q3. “The story ‘The Midnight Visitor’ is a battle of wits.” Justify this statement.
Ans: The statement that “The Midnight Visitor” is a battle of wits is entirely justified. The story presents a confrontation between two secret agents — Ausable and Max — where the winner is determined not by physical strength or weapons but by intelligence and mental agility.
Max enters the battle armed with a pistol and the element of surprise. He has used a passkey to enter Ausable’s room and is waiting to steal the important missile report. He believes that his gun gives him complete control over the situation. However, Max’s reliance on physical force proves to be his greatest weakness.
Ausable, on the other hand, enters the battle with no weapons at all. He is fat, physically unfit, and completely unarmed. Yet, he wins the battle decisively through his superior intellect. He fabricates two brilliant lies — the existence of a balcony and the arrival of the police — and delivers them with such conviction and detail that Max believes them completely. Ausable understands Max’s psychology — he knows that Max will panic at the thought of being caught by the police and will look for an escape route. By providing the “balcony” as that escape route, Ausable effectively turns Max’s own fear against him.
The irony of the story is that the man with the gun loses while the unarmed man wins. Max, who appeared to be in a position of power, is defeated and killed. Ausable, who appeared to be helpless, emerges victorious without firing a single shot. This clearly establishes the story as a battle of wits where the smarter man wins, regardless of physical advantages.
Q4. Describe the role of the imaginary balcony in the story. Why is it central to the plot?
Ans: The imaginary balcony is the most crucial element in the plot of “The Midnight Visitor.” It is the centerpiece of Ausable’s plan to get rid of Max, and the entire climax of the story revolves around it.
When Max confronts Ausable with a gun, Ausable immediately invents the story of a balcony beneath his window. He describes it in great detail — it belongs to the adjoining apartment, extends under his window, and can be accessed from an empty room two doors down the corridor. He even adds the detail that someone had used the same balcony to enter his room just a month ago, and that the hotel management had promised to block it off. All these specific details make the fabrication extremely convincing.
The imaginary balcony serves multiple purposes in the story. First, it provides a plausible explanation for how an intruder could enter the room, diverting Max’s attention from the real entry point (the door). Second, it creates an apparent escape route that Max can use when he feels trapped. Third, it becomes the instrument of Max’s downfall when he jumps out of the window expecting to land on the balcony but instead falls six floors to the ground.
The balcony is central to the plot because without it, Ausable’s plan would not work. It is the foundation upon which the entire deception is built. When combined with the lie about the police, the non-existent balcony becomes a deadly trap. The genius of Ausable lies in the fact that he creates this entire elaborate fiction in a matter of seconds, under the pressure of facing an armed intruder, and delivers it with such natural conviction that neither Max nor Fowler suspects it is a lie until it is too late.
Q5. What is the theme of the story “The Midnight Visitor”? Explain with examples from the text.
Ans: The central theme of “The Midnight Visitor” is that intelligence and presence of mind are more powerful than physical strength or weapons. The story demonstrates that a calm and sharp mind can overcome even the most dangerous situations.
This theme is illustrated through the contrast between Ausable and Max. Max represents physical power — he is slim, menacing, and carries a gun. He uses force and intimidation to achieve his goals. Ausable represents intellectual power — he is fat, unarmed, and physically unimposing, but possesses a brilliant mind. In the confrontation between these two, it is the man of intellect who triumphs.
Another important theme is that appearances can be deceptive. Fowler initially judges Ausable by his appearance and is disappointed. Max also underestimates Ausable because of his physical appearance. Both are proven wrong. Ausable’s ordinary exterior conceals an extraordinary mind, teaching us that we should never judge people based on how they look.
A related theme is the importance of remaining calm under pressure. Throughout the story, Ausable never shows any sign of panic or fear. Even when facing an armed intruder, he keeps his composure and thinks clearly. This calmness allows him to fabricate convincing lies, read Max’s psychology, and use the situation to his advantage. In contrast, Max panics when he hears the knock at the door and makes the fatal decision to jump without verifying the existence of the balcony.
The story also touches on the theme of overconfidence leading to downfall. Max is overconfident because he has a gun and the element of surprise. This overconfidence makes him careless — he trusts Ausable’s words without verification, and this costs him his life.
Q6. How does Robert Arthur build suspense in “The Midnight Visitor”? Discuss the narrative techniques used.
Ans: Robert Arthur builds suspense in “The Midnight Visitor” through several effective narrative techniques that keep the reader engaged and guessing throughout the story.
First, the author uses contrast and subversion of expectations. The story begins by presenting Ausable as a disappointing, unglamorous secret agent. The reader, like Fowler, expects nothing exciting to happen. This makes the sudden appearance of Max with a gun all the more shocking and suspenseful.
Second, Arthur uses dramatic irony. The reader and Fowler both believe Ausable’s story about the balcony, just as Max does. It is only at the end, when Max jumps and screams, that the truth is revealed — there was never a balcony. Similarly, both Max and the reader believe the knock at the door is the police, only to discover it is a waiter. The reader is kept in the same state of uncertainty as the characters.
Third, the author creates tension through the ticking clock. Once Max is in the room with a gun, there is a sense of urgency. The important document could arrive at any moment, and Max is threatening to take it. This creates a pressing need for Ausable to act, which heightens the suspense.
Fourth, the knock on the door is a masterful moment of suspense. Neither the characters nor the reader knows who is behind the door. Is it really the police? Will Max be caught? Will Max shoot? The uncertainty of this moment keeps everyone on edge.
Finally, Arthur uses a twist ending to resolve the suspense. The revelation that the balcony never existed and that the “police” were actually a waiter delivers a satisfying conclusion that surprises the reader and showcases Ausable’s genius.
Q7. “Presence of mind can save one from the most difficult situations.” Discuss this statement with reference to “The Midnight Visitor.”
Ans: The statement that presence of mind can save one from the most difficult situations is perfectly demonstrated in “The Midnight Visitor” through the character of Ausable. Ausable finds himself in an extremely dangerous situation — an armed rival agent has broken into his room and is demanding a valuable document at gunpoint. Most people in such a situation would panic, freeze, or comply with the intruder’s demands. But Ausable does none of these things.
Instead, Ausable keeps his cool and uses his presence of mind to devise a plan on the spot. He does not have any weapon, backup, or prior preparation. All he has is his sharp mind and the ability to think clearly under pressure. Within moments of seeing Max, he invents a detailed and convincing story about a non-existent balcony. He speaks about it with such natural anger and frustration that even Fowler, who is standing right there, believes it to be real.
When luck provides him with an additional opportunity in the form of the waiter’s knock, Ausable instantly incorporates it into his plan by claiming the police have arrived. This two-pronged deception — the fake balcony as an escape route and the fake police as a threat — creates such panic in Max that he makes the fatal mistake of jumping out of a sixth-floor window.
The story teaches us that in a crisis, panic is our worst enemy and composure is our best ally. A person with presence of mind can turn even the worst situation to their advantage. Ausable had no physical advantage over Max — he was fat, unarmed, and taken by surprise. Yet, his mental agility allowed him to not only save himself and the document but also eliminate the threat permanently. This proves beyond doubt that presence of mind is the most valuable quality a person can have in times of danger.
Q8. Describe the events that took place in Ausable’s room after he and Fowler returned. How did Ausable handle the situation?
Ans: When Ausable and Fowler returned to Ausable’s room on the sixth floor of the French hotel, they were greeted by a shocking sight. As Ausable switched on the light, they saw a man — Max — standing halfway across the room with a small automatic pistol in his hand. Max was a slender, menacing figure who had entered using a passkey. He demanded that Ausable hand over the important report on missiles when it was delivered.
Ausable handled this dangerous situation with remarkable composure. Instead of showing fear or trying to fight, he calmly walked across the room to the table and turned on a light. He then began to complain angrily about a balcony beneath his window, claiming this was the second time someone had used it to break into his room. He described the balcony in convincing detail — it belonged to the next apartment, could be reached from an empty room two doors down the corridor, and the management had promised to block it off but had not done so.
Max initially dismissed Ausable’s complaint, saying he had used a passkey, not a balcony. But the seed of the balcony’s existence was planted in his mind. Then, there was a sudden knock at the door. Ausable calmly announced that it must be the police, whom he had called for extra security. Max became extremely nervous and anxious. He threatened to shoot if anyone opened the door, then decided to escape through the window onto the supposed balcony below.
Max moved quickly to the window, swung his legs over the sill, and dropped down. There was a loud, terrified scream as Max discovered that there was no balcony — he was falling from the sixth floor. The door opened, and it was not the police at all but simply the waiter delivering drinks. Ausable calmly told the waiter to put the tray on the table, as if nothing unusual had happened. Through his brilliant presence of mind, Ausable had eliminated a dangerous armed intruder without firing a shot, without raising a hand, and without even breaking a sweat.
Q9. What lesson do we learn from the story “The Midnight Visitor”? How is it relevant to our daily lives?
Ans: The story “The Midnight Visitor” teaches us several valuable lessons that are highly relevant to our daily lives.
The most important lesson is that intelligence and presence of mind are more powerful than physical strength or weapons. Ausable defeats Max without any weapon, purely through his quick thinking and ability to stay calm under pressure. In our daily lives too, we often face challenging situations — examinations, conflicts, emergencies, or difficult decisions — where panicking makes things worse while staying calm and thinking clearly helps us find solutions.
The second lesson is that we should never judge people by their appearance. Both Fowler and Max underestimate Ausable because of his physical appearance. This is a mistake we often make in real life — judging people based on how they look, what they wear, or where they come from, rather than recognizing their true abilities and character.
The third lesson is about the danger of overconfidence. Max is overconfident because he has a gun. He believes he is in complete control. But this overconfidence makes him careless, and he ends up trusting Ausable’s fabricated stories without verification. In our lives, overconfidence can lead us to make poor decisions, ignore warning signs, and underestimate challenges.
Finally, the story teaches us the importance of creative problem-solving. Instead of using conventional methods to deal with Max, Ausable thinks creatively and uses psychology and deception. This teaches us that there is always more than one way to solve a problem, and sometimes the most unconventional approach is the most effective one.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Who is the author of “The Midnight Visitor”?
(a) Ruskin Bond
(b) Robert Arthur
(c) R.K. Narayan
(d) H.G. Wells
Ans: (b) Robert Arthur
Q2. What is Ausable’s profession?
(a) Teacher
(b) Writer
(c) Secret agent
(d) Hotel manager
Ans: (c) Secret agent
Q3. On which floor of the hotel does Ausable live?
(a) Third floor
(b) Fourth floor
(c) Fifth floor
(d) Sixth and top floor
Ans: (d) Sixth and top floor
Q4. Where did Ausable originally come from?
(a) London
(b) New York
(c) Boston
(d) Berlin
Ans: (c) Boston
Q5. What accent did Ausable have?
(a) French
(b) German
(c) British
(d) American
Ans: (d) American
Q6. Who is Fowler?
(a) A secret agent
(b) A police officer
(c) A writer
(d) A waiter
Ans: (c) A writer
Q7. How did Max enter Ausable’s room?
(a) Through the window
(b) Through the balcony
(c) By breaking the lock
(d) By using a passkey
Ans: (d) By using a passkey
Q8. What did Max carry with him?
(a) A knife
(b) A rope
(c) A small automatic pistol
(d) A torch
Ans: (c) A small automatic pistol
Q9. What important document was Ausable expecting?
(a) A war plan
(b) A report on new missiles
(c) A treasure map
(d) A list of secret agents
Ans: (b) A report on new missiles
Q10. What story did Ausable fabricate to deceive Max?
(a) About a secret tunnel
(b) About a hidden safe
(c) About a balcony beneath his window
(d) About a fire escape
Ans: (c) About a balcony beneath his window
Q11. Was there actually a balcony beneath Ausable’s window?
(a) Yes, a large one
(b) No, there was no balcony
(c) Yes, but a very small one
(d) It was under construction
Ans: (b) No, there was no balcony
Q12. Who actually knocked at the door?
(a) The police
(b) Another spy
(c) The hotel manager
(d) The waiter
Ans: (d) The waiter
Q13. What did Ausable tell Max about the person knocking?
(a) It was the room service
(b) It was the police
(c) It was another agent
(d) It was the hotel manager
Ans: (b) It was the police
Q14. Why did Max jump out of the window?
(a) To chase someone
(b) To test the balcony
(c) To escape from the police onto the balcony
(d) Because Ausable pushed him
Ans: (c) To escape from the police onto the balcony
Q15. What was Fowler’s initial reaction on meeting Ausable?
(a) Excitement
(b) Fear
(c) Disappointment
(d) Admiration
Ans: (c) Disappointment
Q16. The word “musty” means:
(a) Clean and tidy
(b) Stale and mouldy
(c) Bright and airy
(d) Large and spacious
Ans: (b) Stale and mouldy
Q17. How many times did Ausable say someone had entered through the balcony?
(a) Once
(b) Twice
(c) Three times
(d) Never
Ans: (b) Twice (including the current incident with Max)
Q18. What is the meaning of “slender”?
(a) Fat
(b) Slim
(c) Tall
(d) Short
Ans: (b) Slim
Extract-Based Questions
Extract 1
“And then there was his accent. Though he spoke French and German passably, he had never altogether lost the American accent he had brought to Paris from Boston twenty years ago.”
(a) Who is ‘he’ referred to in this extract?
Ans: ‘He’ refers to Ausable, the secret agent who lives in Paris.
(b) Where is ‘he’ at present and what does he do?
Ans: He is presently in Paris, France, where he works as a secret agent. He lives in a small room on the sixth floor of a gloomy French hotel.
(c) What does the word “passably” mean?
Ans: “Passably” means moderately or to an acceptable extent but not very well. It suggests that Ausable could manage to speak French and German but was not fluent in either language.
(d) What does this extract tell us about Ausable’s character?
Ans: This extract tells us that Ausable is an American who has been living in Paris for about twenty years. Despite living there for so long, he has not been able to lose his American accent or become fluent in French and German. This makes him seem like an unlikely spy, as one would expect a secret agent to be fluent in multiple languages. It adds to the impression that Ausable does not fit the conventional image of a secret agent.
Extract 2
“You are disillusioned,” Ausable told him. “But take cheer, my young friend. Presently you will see a paper, a quite important paper for which several men and women have risked their lives, come to me. Some day soon that paper may well affect the course of history.”
(a) Who is ‘my young friend’? Why is he disillusioned?
Ans: ‘My young friend’ refers to Fowler, a young and romantic writer. He is disillusioned because Ausable does not match his expectations of what a secret agent should look like. Fowler had imagined a tall, handsome, and glamorous spy but instead found a fat, wheezing man living in a dingy hotel room.
(b) What is the ‘important paper’ mentioned here?
Ans: The ‘important paper’ is a report concerning some new missiles. It is a highly significant document for which several men and women have risked their lives. Ausable says that this paper could affect the course of history, indicating its strategic and military importance.
(c) Find a word from the extract that means “disappointed.”
Ans: The word “disillusioned” means disappointed or freed from false beliefs and expectations.
(d) What does Ausable promise will happen soon?
Ans: Ausable promises that Fowler will soon see an important paper being delivered to him. He says that this document is so significant that it could affect the course of history. He is trying to reassure Fowler that exciting things are about to happen despite the boring first impression.
Extract 3
“And as the light came on, Fowler had his first authentic thrill of the day. For halfway across the room, a small automatic pistol in his hand, stood a man.”
(a) Who is the ‘man’ with the pistol?
Ans: The man with the pistol is Max, a rival secret agent who has broken into Ausable’s room to steal the important missile report.
(b) Why did Fowler feel this was an “authentic thrill”?
Ans: Fowler felt this was an authentic thrill because he had come to meet Ausable expecting exciting espionage adventures but had been disappointed by Ausable’s ordinary appearance and lifestyle. Seeing a man with a gun in the room was the first genuinely thrilling and dangerous experience of his visit — something that matched his idea of what a spy’s life should be like.
(c) How had this man entered the room?
Ans: This man had entered Ausable’s room by using a passkey (a master key that can open several locks). He came through the main door while Ausable and Fowler were away.
(d) What is the opposite of the word “authentic”?
Ans: The opposite of “authentic” is “fake” or “false.”
Extract 4
“You can get onto it from the empty room two doors down, and somebody did, last month. The management promised to block it off. But they haven’t.”
(a) Who is the speaker and who is he speaking to?
Ans: The speaker is Ausable. He is speaking ostensibly to Fowler but actually intending for Max to hear the information. He is fabricating the story of the balcony to plant the idea of an escape route in Max’s mind.
(b) What does ‘it’ refer to?
Ans: ‘It’ refers to the imaginary balcony that Ausable claims exists beneath his window. He says it belongs to the adjoining apartment and can be accessed from an empty room two doors down the corridor.
(c) What does the phrase “block it off” mean?
Ans: “Block it off” means to close it up, seal it, or make it inaccessible so that nobody can use it to enter the room. Ausable claims the hotel management promised to do this but has not yet done so.
(d) Is the information given by the speaker true? Why does he say it?
Ans: No, the information is completely false. There is no balcony beneath Ausable’s window. Ausable fabricates this story to make Max believe that there is an escape route via the balcony. He does this so that when he later claims the police are at the door, Max will try to escape through the window, thinking he will land on the balcony. This is part of Ausable’s brilliant plan to get rid of Max.
Extract 5
“Max cursed softly. He looked uncertain. The knocking was repeated. ‘What will you do now, Ausable?’ he whispered. ‘If I do not answer the door, they will break it in.’”
(a) Why did Max curse softly?
Ans: Max cursed softly because he heard a knock at the door which Ausable claimed was the police. Max was alarmed and frustrated because the arrival of the police meant he could be caught and arrested. His plan to steal the missile report was now in danger.
(b) Why did Max look uncertain?
Ans: Max looked uncertain because he was caught in a dilemma. He had come to steal the document but now the police were supposedly at the door. He had to make a quick decision — either stay and risk being arrested, or try to escape. He was unsure of what to do, which is exactly the state of confusion Ausable wanted to create.
(c) Who is actually at the door?
Ans: It is actually the hotel waiter who has come to deliver the drinks that Ausable had ordered earlier. It is not the police at all — Ausable had lied to create panic in Max’s mind.
(d) What does Max do after this? What happens to him?
Ans: After hearing the repeated knocking, Max decides to escape through the window onto the balcony that Ausable had described. He puts his gun into his pocket, swings his legs over the window sill, and drops down. But since there is no balcony, Max falls from the sixth floor and screams in terror as he plummets to the ground below.
Value-Based Questions
Q1. What values can students learn from Ausable’s character in “The Midnight Visitor”?
Ans: Ausable’s character in “The Midnight Visitor” teaches students several important values:
(i) Presence of mind: Ausable demonstrates that staying calm and thinking clearly under pressure is the most valuable skill one can possess. Instead of panicking when faced with an armed intruder, he uses his sharp mind to devise a clever plan. Students can apply this lesson in their own lives — during examinations, competitions, or any stressful situation, remaining calm and focused leads to better outcomes.
(ii) Intelligence over physical strength: The story teaches us that brains are more powerful than brawn. Ausable is fat, unarmed, and physically unimposing, yet he defeats a slim, armed, and dangerous opponent purely through his intelligence. This is an important lesson for students — developing their mental abilities, knowledge, and problem-solving skills is more important than physical attributes.
(iii) Not judging by appearances: Ausable’s story teaches us never to judge people by how they look. His ordinary appearance hides an extraordinary mind. Students should learn to respect and appreciate people for their abilities and character rather than their physical appearance, clothes, or social status.
(iv) Creative problem-solving: Ausable finds an unconventional solution to a seemingly impossible problem. He does not use force or follow predictable patterns. This teaches students that creativity and out-of-the-box thinking can solve even the most difficult problems.
Q2. “The Midnight Visitor” teaches us that violence is not always the answer. Explain how Ausable resolves a violent situation without resorting to violence himself.
Ans: “The Midnight Visitor” is an excellent example of how conflicts can be resolved without violence. When Ausable is confronted by Max — an armed rival agent with a pistol — the situation is inherently violent and dangerous. Max is ready to use force to get what he wants. In such a situation, most people would either submit to the threat or try to fight back with equal or greater force.
However, Ausable chooses a completely different path. He does not attempt to attack Max, wrestle the gun away from him, or call for armed backup. Instead, he uses words, psychology, and clever deception as his weapons. He calmly fabricates a story about a non-existent balcony, speaking with such conviction and natural detail that Max believes every word. He then uses the waiter’s knock to create the illusion of police presence, exploiting Max’s fear of being caught.
Through this non-violent approach, Ausable achieves a result that no amount of physical force could have achieved so cleanly. Max eliminates himself by jumping out of the window, believing the balcony will catch him. Ausable does not fire a single shot, throw a single punch, or cause a scene. The entire confrontation is resolved through the power of the mind.
This teaches us a profound lesson: violence breeds more violence, but intelligence can end conflict without causing further harm. In our daily lives — in schools, homes, and communities — we face conflicts regularly. The story encourages us to resolve these conflicts through calm communication, creative thinking, and understanding rather than through anger, aggression, or force. It reminds us that the pen (or in this case, the mind) is truly mightier than the sword (or the gun).
Q3. Discuss the value of not underestimating others with reference to “The Midnight Visitor.”
Ans: “The Midnight Visitor” powerfully illustrates the value of not underestimating others. Both Max and Fowler make the mistake of judging Ausable by his appearance, and both are proven wrong.
Max underestimates Ausable because he sees a fat, wheezing man who does not look like a threat. He enters Ausable’s room confidently with a gun, believing he has complete control over the situation. He does not consider the possibility that this ordinary-looking man could outwit him. This underestimation proves to be Max’s fatal mistake. He trusts Ausable’s words about the balcony and the police without verifying them because he does not believe Ausable is clever enough to deceive him. This overconfidence and underestimation of his opponent lead directly to Max’s downfall.
Fowler also underestimates Ausable. He arrives expecting a glamorous spy and is disappointed by what he sees. He judges Ausable entirely on his physical appearance and concludes that this man cannot be a great secret agent. However, by the end of the story, Fowler’s opinion is completely transformed as he witnesses Ausable’s brilliant mind in action.
This teaches us a valuable lesson: we should never underestimate anyone based on their appearance, background, or first impression. Every person has hidden strengths and abilities that may not be immediately visible. In schools and workplaces, the quietest person may have the sharpest mind, and the most ordinary-looking individual may possess extraordinary talents. The story reminds us to treat everyone with respect and never assume we know the full measure of a person based on superficial observations.
Character Sketches
Ausable
Ausable is the protagonist of the story and a secret agent operating from Paris. Originally from Boston, USA, he has lived in Paris for over twenty years. He is extremely fat and wheezes when he breathes. He speaks French and German only passably and has never lost his American accent. He lives in a small, musty room on the sixth floor of a gloomy French hotel. Despite his unremarkable appearance, Ausable is exceptionally intelligent, quick-thinking, and composed. He demonstrates extraordinary presence of mind by fabricating convincing lies about a non-existent balcony and the arrival of police to outwit and eliminate an armed intruder. He proves that true strength lies in the mind, not in physical appearance or weapons.
Max
Max is the antagonist of the story and a rival secret agent. He is described as slender with a face that appears fox-like. He is menacing and dangerous, and carries a small automatic pistol. He enters Ausable’s room using a passkey with the intention of stealing an important missile report. Despite his threatening appearance and weapon, Max is ultimately outsmarted by Ausable. His main weakness is his overconfidence — he underestimates Ausable based on his appearance and trusts his fabricated stories without verification. He represents the type of person who relies on physical force rather than intelligence, and his downfall demonstrates the superiority of mind over muscle.
Fowler
Fowler is a young and romantic writer who visits Ausable hoping to experience the thrilling world of espionage. He serves as the audience surrogate in the story — his reactions mirror what the reader would feel. He is initially disappointed by Ausable’s ordinary appearance, expecting a glamorous spy. However, his view is completely transformed when he witnesses Ausable’s brilliant handling of the dangerous situation with Max. Fowler represents the tendency to judge people by appearances and the lesson one learns when those judgments are proven wrong. His experience with Ausable teaches him — and the reader — that real heroism lies in intelligence and composure, not in looks or dramatic action.