Class 10 English Chapter 4 Question Answer | A Question of Trust
Welcome to HSLC Guru. In this article, we provide a complete set of questions and answers for Class 10 English Footprints without Feet Chapter 4 – A Question of Trust by Victor Canning. 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 (Read and Find Out, Think about it, Talk about it), additional short and long answer questions, MCQs, extract-based questions, value-based questions, and character sketches to help you prepare thoroughly for your HSLC examination.
Summary of A Question of Trust
“A Question of Trust” is a clever and ironic short story written by Victor Canning. The story revolves around Horace Danby, a fifty-year-old unmarried man who is outwardly a respectable and successful locksmith. He is well-liked in his community, makes locks, has two helpers, and is considered a good, honest citizen. However, Horace has a secret weakness – he loves rare and expensive books. To fund this passion, he robs one safe every year, carefully planning his theft so that the stolen money lasts him twelve months. He then secretly buys the books he desires through an agent. He has been doing this for fifteen years without ever being caught.
This year, Horace targets Shotover Grange, a large house whose owners have gone to London. He spends two weeks studying the house, its rooms, electric wiring, paths, and garden. He learns from a magazine article that the house contains a safe with jewels worth about fifteen thousand pounds, hidden behind a poor painting in the drawing room. On the day of the robbery, the household servants go out to watch a movie, giving Horace a perfect opportunity. He enters the house confidently, pets the small dog named Sherry, and begins to work on the safe.
However, Horace suffers from hay fever, and the flowers in the room cause him to sneeze loudly. At that moment, a young and pretty woman dressed in red appears at the doorway. She speaks to Horace confidently, as though she is the lady of the house. She pets the dog by name, touches up her make-up, picks a cigarette from the right place, and moves about the house with complete familiarity. Horace is terrified of being caught and begs her to let him go, promising never to steal again.
The woman is clever. Instead of calling the police, she tells Horace that she has come down from London to get her jewels from the safe because she needs them for a party that evening. She claims to have forgotten the combination number of the safe and asks Horace to open it for her. Relieved that she is not going to hand him over to the police, Horace agrees. In his haste and gratitude, he removes his gloves and opens the safe with his bare hands, leaving his fingerprints everywhere. He hands over the jewels to the woman and leaves happily, thinking he has had a lucky escape.
Three days later, Horace is arrested by the police. His fingerprints on the safe are clear evidence. When he tells his story about the young woman, nobody believes him. The real owner of the house turns out to be a woman of about sixty years old, not the young lady Horace had met. The young woman in red was actually another thief who had cleverly tricked Horace into opening the safe for her so she could steal the jewels. Horace had been outwitted by a fellow criminal. He is now serving his sentence in prison, working as the assistant librarian. He often gets angry when anyone talks about “honour among thieves,” because the woman who tricked him certainly had none.
Read and Find Out (Textbook Questions and Answers)
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Q1. What does Horace Danby like to collect?
Ans: Horace Danby likes to collect rare and expensive books. He has a great passion for books and loves to read them. However, since he cannot afford to buy such expensive books through his legitimate income as a locksmith, he resorts to stealing money from safes once every year to finance his book collection.
Q2. Why does he steal every year?
Ans: Horace Danby steals every year so that he can buy the rare and expensive books that he loves to collect. Each year, he plans carefully just what he would do, steals enough money to last for twelve months, and then secretly buys the books he desires through an agent. His legitimate income from making locks is not enough to fund his expensive hobby, so he commits one robbery each year to satisfy his passion for rare books.
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Q3. Who is speaking to Horace Danby?
Ans: A young and pretty woman dressed in red is speaking to Horace Danby. She appears at the doorway of the room where Horace is trying to rob the safe at Shotover Grange. She pretends to be one of the members of the family living at Shotover Grange. She acts as though she is the wife of the owner of the house. However, she is actually a clever thief herself who tricks Horace into opening the safe for her so that she can steal the jewels.
Q4. Who is the real culprit in the story?
Ans: The real culprit in the story is the young woman dressed in red who pretended to be a member of the family living at Shotover Grange. She was actually a professional thief who cleverly deceived Horace Danby into opening the safe for her. She manipulated him by pretending that she had forgotten the combination of the safe and needed the jewels for a party. After Horace opened the safe without wearing gloves, she took away all the jewels while Horace was left with his fingerprints on the safe, leading to his arrest.
Think about it (Page 25)
Q1. Did you begin to suspect, before the end of the story, that the lady was not the person Horace Danby took her to be? If so, at what point did you realise this, and how?
Ans: Yes, there were several subtle hints in the story that made one suspect the lady’s true identity before the story ended. Firstly, her unusual calmness upon finding a thief in her house was suspicious. A real homeowner would have been frightened or would have immediately called the police. Instead, she remained composed and even conversational. Secondly, her failure to call the police or raise an alarm was a strong indication that something was not right. Thirdly, her convenient claim that she had “forgotten” the combination of the safe seemed too coincidental. Fourthly, her suggestion that Horace should open the safe for her was clearly manipulative. A genuine homeowner would not ask a thief to open her own safe. All these signs pointed to the fact that the lady was not who she claimed to be and was using Horace for her own criminal purpose.
Q2. What are the subtle ways in which the lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into thinking she is the lady of the house? Why does Horace not suspect that something is wrong?
Ans: The lady uses several subtle methods to deceive Horace Danby into believing that she is the lady of the house. Her confident walk and the ease with which she moves around the house suggest that she belongs there. She shows familiarity with the dog Sherry by calling it by name and petting it, which convinces Horace that she knows the household. She casually touches up her make-up and picks a cigarette from the right place, showing complete knowledge of the house. She speaks with authority and confidence, behaving exactly as the owner of the house would.
Horace does not suspect anything is wrong because he is too frightened to think clearly. The fear of being caught red-handed and sent to prison clouds his judgement. He is so desperate to escape the situation that he does not question the lady’s identity or her unusual behaviour. His panic prevents him from noticing the inconsistencies in her story, and he is so relieved when she offers not to call the police that he blindly follows her instructions.
Q3. “Horace Danby was good and respectable – but not completely honest.” Why do you think this description is accurate? Why can’t Horace be described as a typical thief?
Ans: This description is accurate because Horace Danby was indeed a good and respectable citizen on the surface. He was a successful locksmith who made locks and had two helpers. He was liked and respected by everyone in his community. He was well-mannered, kind, and appeared to be an honest man. However, he was “not completely honest” because he secretly robbed one safe every year to buy rare books. This made him dishonest, though he did not fit the typical image of a criminal.
Horace cannot be described as a typical thief because he did not steal out of greed or necessity. He stole only once a year, taking just enough to fund his book collection for twelve months. A typical thief steals frequently and for personal gain or survival. Horace was motivated by his love for rare books, not by greed. He was a meticulous planner who carefully studied every detail before committing a robbery. He did not use violence or threaten anyone. He was, in a sense, a gentleman thief who maintained his respectability while secretly indulging in criminal activity. His refined motivation and restrained behaviour set him apart from ordinary criminals.
Q4. Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong?
Ans: Horace Danby was indeed a meticulous planner. He spent two weeks studying the house at Shotover Grange, learning about its rooms, electric wiring, paths, and the location of the safe. He knew about the dog, the servants’ schedule, and the family’s absence. He had planned everything perfectly. However, he faltered in one critical area – he failed to get enough information about the real occupants of the house. He was so occupied with collecting information about the house’s layout, security system, and location of valuables that he overlooked getting details about who actually lived there, what they looked like, and their ages.
When the young woman appeared, he had no way of knowing that she was not the real owner. His second major mistake was that he removed his gloves while opening the safe. In his panic and desperation to please the woman so she would let him go, he forgot to wear his gloves and left his fingerprints all over the safe. This carelessness, born out of fear and haste, ultimately led to his arrest. His careful planning was undone by his failure to research the people and by the emotional pressure of an unexpected situation.
Talk about it (Page 25)
Q1. Do you think Horace Danby was justified in robbing? Do you think he deserved what he got?
Ans: No, Horace Danby was not justified in robbing safes, regardless of his motivation. Stealing is a crime, and no purpose, however noble or refined, can justify it. His love for rare books does not give him the right to take what belongs to others. While his motive was not greed in the traditional sense, the act of theft is wrong in itself. The people he stole from suffered losses because of his actions.
Yes, Horace Danby deserved what he got. A crime is a crime, no matter how it is committed or for what purpose. He had been stealing for fifteen years, and it was only a matter of time before he was caught. The irony of his situation – being tricked by another thief – is a fitting consequence of his own dishonesty. He trusted a stranger without verification, just as his victims had trusted that their safes were secure. His punishment serves as a reminder that crime does not pay, no matter how carefully one plans. The law treats all theft equally, regardless of the thief’s intentions or character.
Q2. Do intentions justify actions? Would you agree that a person should be judged on the basis of intentions or actions?
Ans: No, intentions do not justify actions. The saying “the ends do not justify the means” holds true in this context. Horace Danby may have had a refined and seemingly harmless intention – to buy rare books – but his method of achieving this goal was criminal and dishonest. Good intentions cannot excuse bad actions. If everyone were to justify their wrongdoings by citing good intentions, society would descend into chaos.
A person should be judged primarily on the basis of their actions, not just their intentions. While intentions reveal a person’s character, it is actions that affect society and other people. Horace may have intended to enjoy beautiful books, but his actions caused financial loss to the people he robbed. In the eyes of the law, actions matter more than intentions. However, a balanced approach would consider both – understanding the motivation behind an action while still holding the person accountable for the consequences of their deeds. In Horace’s case, his actions were clearly wrong, and no amount of good intention can change that fact.
Additional Short Answer Questions (2-3 Marks)
Q1. Who is Horace Danby? Describe him briefly.
Ans: Horace Danby is a fifty-year-old unmarried man who lives with a housekeeper. He is a successful locksmith who makes locks and has two helpers. He is well-liked and respected by everyone as a good, honest citizen. However, he has a secret life – he is a thief who robs one safe every year to buy rare and expensive books. He suffers from hay fever attacks, especially during the summer months.
Q2. What was Horace Danby’s real passion in life?
Ans: Horace Danby’s real passion in life was collecting rare and expensive books. He loved books dearly and wanted to possess the finest and rarest editions. Since he could not afford to buy such expensive books through his legitimate income as a locksmith, he resorted to stealing money from safes once a year and then secretly buying the books through an agent.
Q3. How did Horace plan his robberies?
Ans: Horace planned his robberies very carefully and meticulously. He would study the target house for weeks, learning about its rooms, electric wiring, paths, and garden. He would find out about the security system, the location of the safe, and the schedule of the family and servants. He would choose a time when the family was away and the servants were out. He planned each detail so thoroughly that he had been successful for fifteen years without getting caught.
Q4. What did Horace know about Shotover Grange before the robbery?
Ans: Horace had spent two weeks carefully studying Shotover Grange before attempting the robbery. He knew the layout of all the rooms, the electric wiring, the paths, and the garden. He knew that the family had gone to London and that the servants were going out to watch a movie that evening. He had read in a magazine article about the safe in the drawing room, hidden behind a painting, which contained jewels worth about fifteen thousand pounds. He also knew about the small dog named Sherry that lived in the house.
Q5. What problem did Horace face while entering Shotover Grange?
Ans: Horace suffered from hay fever, which caused him problems while entering Shotover Grange. The flowers in the room made him sneeze loudly and repeatedly. His nose tickled, his eyes watered, and he could not stop sneezing. This loud sneezing attracted the attention of the young woman who appeared at the doorway and caught him in the act of trying to rob the safe.
Q6. How did Horace deal with the dog at Shotover Grange?
Ans: When Horace entered Shotover Grange, he found a small dog named Sherry lying in the kitchen. The dog stirred, made a noise, and moved its tail in a friendly way. Horace called the dog by its name, “Sherry,” and petted it. He had clearly done his homework and knew the dog’s name beforehand. The dog was friendly and did not bark or create any alarm, allowing Horace to proceed with his robbery attempt.
Q7. What story did the young woman tell Horace to convince him to open the safe?
Ans: The young woman told Horace that she had promised her husband to take the jewels to their bank for safekeeping before leaving for London. However, she claimed she had left them in the safe and had now forgotten the combination number. She said she needed the jewels urgently because she was going to a party that evening and wanted to wear them. She asked Horace to use his skills as a locksmith to open the safe for her, in return for which she would forget that she had ever seen him in the house.
Q8. Why did Horace remove his gloves while opening the safe?
Ans: Horace removed his gloves while opening the safe because he needed to feel the lock mechanism more precisely with his bare fingers. Without gloves, a locksmith can better sense the subtle clicks and movements of the lock. In his haste and desperation to please the young woman and escape the situation, he forgot the importance of wearing gloves. This careless act left his fingerprints all over the safe, which later became the evidence that led to his arrest.
Q9. What advice did the young lady give Horace about his hay fever?
Ans: The young lady advised Horace that he could cure his hay fever with a special treatment. She suggested that he should find out which particular plant caused his allergy. She told him that if he was serious about his “work” (meaning his career as a thief), he should see a doctor about his hay fever. This advice was given in a casual and confident manner, as if she was genuinely concerned about his health, which further helped her gain his trust.
Q10. How was Horace caught by the police?
Ans: Horace was caught by the police three days after the robbery at Shotover Grange. His fingerprints were found all over the safe because he had removed his gloves while opening it. The police traced the fingerprints back to him. When Horace told the police about the young woman who had tricked him, nobody believed his story. The real owner of the house was a woman of about sixty, not the young lady Horace described. Without any proof of the woman’s existence, Horace was convicted and sent to prison.
Q11. What happened to Horace after his arrest?
Ans: After his arrest, Horace Danby was sentenced to prison. In prison, he works as the assistant librarian, a job that suits his love for books. He is no longer gentle and kind as he used to be. He gets very angry whenever anyone mentions the phrase “honour among thieves.” This is because the young woman who tricked him showed no honour at all – she deceived a fellow thief and let him take the blame for her crime.
Q12. What is the meaning of “honour among thieves”? How does it apply to this story?
Ans: “Honour among thieves” is an old saying that means even dishonest people follow certain unwritten codes of conduct and do not betray each other. It suggests that criminals have a moral code that prevents them from cheating or harming their fellow criminals. In this story, the young woman violated this code completely. She was a thief who deceived another thief (Horace) into doing her dirty work. She manipulated him into opening the safe, took the jewels, and let him get caught by the police. Horace feels bitter about this betrayal, which is why he gets angry when anyone mentions “honour among thieves.”
Q13. Was opening the safe at Shotover Grange difficult for Horace? Why or why not?
Ans: No, opening the safe at Shotover Grange was not particularly difficult for Horace. He had extensive experience with locks and safes throughout his life as a professional locksmith. He had been successfully robbing safes for fifteen years. Moreover, the burglar alarm at Shotover Grange was poorly built, and he was able to cut its wires easily. His skill as a locksmith and his experience as a thief made the task relatively straightforward for him.
Q14. How did Horace learn about the safe at Shotover Grange?
Ans: Horace learned about the safe at Shotover Grange from a magazine article. The article described the house and its contents, including the fact that a safe in the drawing room contained jewels worth about fifteen thousand pounds. The safe was hidden behind a poor painting on the wall. This information, combined with the two weeks he spent studying the house, gave him all the details he needed to plan his robbery.
Q15. Why did nobody believe Horace’s story about the young woman?
Ans: Nobody believed Horace’s story about the young woman because there was no evidence to support his claim. The real owner of Shotover Grange was a woman of about sixty years old who had been in London at the time of the robbery. She denied ever having met or seen Horace Danby. There was no proof that the young woman in red existed. Horace’s fingerprints on the safe were the only concrete evidence, and they pointed directly to him. His story sounded like a desperate attempt to avoid punishment, and the police and the judge dismissed it as a fabrication.
Q16. How was the young woman cleverer than Horace?
Ans: The young woman was cleverer than Horace in several ways. While Horace relied on tools, detailed planning, and physical skills to commit his robberies, the young woman used nothing but her intelligence, acting ability, and psychological manipulation. She had no tools, no gloves, and no elaborate plan. She simply walked in, acted confidently, and used Horace’s fear and desperation to her advantage. She left no evidence behind while Horace left his fingerprints everywhere. She got the jewels without doing any of the hard work, and she walked away free while Horace went to prison. Her use of wit and cunning proved far more effective than Horace’s meticulous planning.
Additional Long Answer Questions (5-6 Marks)
Q1. Give a detailed character sketch of Horace Danby.
Ans: Horace Danby is the central character of the story “A Question of Trust” by Victor Canning. He is a fifty-year-old unmarried man who lives with a housekeeper. On the surface, he appears to be a good, honest, and respectable citizen.
Profession: Horace is a successful locksmith who makes locks and has two helpers. He runs a legitimate business and is well-regarded in his community. People trust him and consider him an honest man.
Secret Life: Behind his respectable exterior, Horace leads a secret life as a thief. He robs one safe every year to fund his passion for rare and expensive books. He has been doing this for fifteen years without being caught. He plans his robberies meticulously, spending weeks studying the target house before making his move.
Personality: Horace is intelligent, meticulous, and patient. He is a careful planner who leaves nothing to chance. He is also gentle and kind, as shown by his interaction with the dog Sherry. However, he is also naive and trusting, which proves to be his downfall. When confronted by the young woman, he is too frightened and desperate to think clearly, allowing himself to be manipulated easily.
Weakness: Horace has two major weaknesses – his love for rare books, which drives him to steal, and his hay fever, which causes him problems during his robbery. His third weakness, revealed by the story, is his inability to handle unexpected situations. Despite fifteen years of successful thieving, he falls apart when confronted by the young woman.
Irony: The greatest irony of Horace’s character is that he, a thief, is undone by being too trusting. He trusts the young woman without verifying her identity, just as his victims trusted that their safes were secure. His story illustrates the saying that “those who deceive can also be deceived.”
Horace Danby is a complex character who is neither entirely good nor entirely bad. He is a gentleman thief whose refined motivations do not excuse his criminal actions, and whose meticulous planning is ultimately defeated by his own naivety and trust.
Q2. Describe the__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(character of the young__(__(__(woman in__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(red. How does she outwit Horace Danby?
Ans: The young woman in red is the most cunning and clever character in the story “A Question of Trust.” She is never named in the story, which adds to her mysterious nature. She is described as young, pretty, and dressed in red.
Intelligence and Acting: The young woman is extremely intelligent and a brilliant actress. She enters the house at Shotover Grange and immediately assumes the role of the lady of the house. Her performance is so convincing that even a careful and experienced thief like Horace is completely deceived. She moves around the house with confidence and familiarity, as though she truly belongs there.
Methods of Deception: She uses several subtle techniques to deceive Horace. She calls the dog by its name (Sherry) and pets it, showing familiarity with the household. She casually touches up her make-up and picks a cigarette from the right place, suggesting she knows the house well. She speaks with authority and confidence, never showing any nervousness. She fabricates a convincing story about forgetting the safe’s combination and needing the jewels for a party.
Psychological Manipulation: Her greatest skill is psychological manipulation. She understands Horace’s fear of being caught and uses it against him. Instead of threatening him with the police, she offers him a deal – she will forget she ever saw him if he opens the safe for her. This clever move exploits Horace’s desperation and gratitude, making him willing to do anything she asks.
Outcome: She outwits Horace completely. She gets him to remove his gloves and open the safe with his bare hands, ensuring his fingerprints are left as evidence. She takes the jewels and disappears, leaving Horace to face the consequences. She commits the perfect crime – she gets someone else to do the hard work, leaves no evidence of her own presence, and walks away with the loot. She represents the idea that brains and cunning are more powerful than tools and planning.
Q3. “A Question of Trust” is a story about__(__(__(the__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(irony of life.”__(__(__(Discuss.
Ans: “A Question of Trust” by Victor Canning is indeed rich in irony. The entire story is built on multiple layers of ironic situations that highlight the unpredictable and often humorous nature of life.
Irony of Character: The first irony lies in the character of Horace Danby himself. He is described as “good and respectable – but not completely honest.” The contradiction of being good yet dishonest is inherently ironic. He is a locksmith – a person trusted to keep things safe – who secretly breaks into safes. The very skills that make him a trusted professional also make him a successful criminal.
Irony of Situation: The central irony of the story is that a thief is robbed by another thief. Horace, who has been successfully stealing for fifteen years, is outwitted by a woman who uses nothing but her wits. He goes to rob a safe and ends up opening it for someone else. He enters the house as a thief and leaves as a victim. The hunter becomes the hunted.
Irony of Trust: The title itself is ironic. The story is about trust – or the lack of it. Horace trusts the young woman without verification, just as his previous victims trusted that their safes were secure. The irony is that a man who breaks other people’s trust is undone by placing his own trust in the wrong person. A thief, who should be suspicious of everyone, is deceived by another thief.
Irony of Planning: Horace is a meticulous planner who prepares for weeks before a robbery. Yet all his planning is rendered useless by an unplanned encounter with a clever stranger. His careful preparation is defeated by spontaneous improvisation. The woman, who apparently had no elaborate plan, succeeds where the meticulous planner fails.
Irony of Justice: Finally, Horace ends up in prison not for the crime he intended to commit, but for a crime committed by someone else. He is punished for the young woman’s theft, while she walks free. This is the ultimate irony – the wrong person pays for the crime.
Q4. How does the story “A Question of Trust” illustrate that crime does not pay?
Ans: The story “A Question of Trust” powerfully illustrates the age-old lesson that crime does not pay, regardless of how carefully it is planned or how noble the criminal’s intentions may be.
Horace’s Downfall: Horace Danby had been successfully robbing safes for fifteen years without getting caught. He was meticulous in his planning, patient in his execution, and careful in covering his tracks. Despite this impressive record of criminal success, he was ultimately caught and sent to prison. His fifteen-year winning streak ended in complete disaster, proving that no criminal, however skilled, can escape the consequences of their actions forever.
The Trap of Dishonesty: Horace’s story shows that one act of dishonesty leads to another. His love for books led him to steal. His stealing made him vulnerable to the young woman’s deception. The woman’s deception led to his arrest and imprisonment. Each dishonest act created the conditions for the next one, creating a chain of consequences that ultimately destroyed his freedom and reputation.
Loss of Everything: By the end of the story, Horace has lost everything. He has lost his freedom (he is in prison), his reputation (everyone now knows he is a thief), his business (he can no longer work as a locksmith), and even his beloved books (he now works as an assistant librarian, handling books he cannot own). The very thing he stole for – the pleasure of owning rare books – has been taken from him.
Universal Lesson: The story teaches that no matter how intelligent, careful, or well-intentioned a criminal may be, crime will eventually catch up with them. Horace thought he was too clever to be caught, but life proved him wrong. His downfall came not from the police or from any security system, but from another criminal who was even more cunning. This shows that the criminal world is inherently unstable and untrustworthy – there is truly no “honour among thieves.”
Q5. Compare and contrast Horace Danby and the young woman as criminals.
Ans: Horace Danby and the young woman represent two very different types of criminals, and their comparison reveals interesting insights about the nature of crime and intelligence.
Methods: Horace relies on planning, tools, and technical skills. He spends weeks studying his target, uses his expertise as a locksmith to open safes, and carries gloves and other equipment. The young woman, on the other hand, relies on wit, acting, and psychological manipulation. She carries no tools and needs no technical expertise. She uses her intelligence and confidence to make others do her work for her.
Approach: Horace is a hands-on criminal who does all the work himself. He breaks into houses, disables alarms, and opens safes. The young woman is a manipulator who gets others to do the dirty work. She tricks Horace into opening the safe for her, never touching it herself.
Risk Management: Horace tries to minimise risk through careful planning but still exposes himself by being physically present at the crime scene. The young woman minimises risk by leaving no evidence of her involvement. She has no fingerprints at the scene, no tools to connect her to the crime, and no witnesses who can identify her.
Motivation: Horace steals for a specific purpose – to buy rare books. His motivation is personal and refined. The young woman’s motivation appears to be pure criminal gain – she wants the jewels for their monetary value.
Outcome: Horace is caught and imprisoned. The young woman escapes with the jewels and is never identified or caught. This outcome clearly shows that the woman’s approach is more effective than Horace’s. Brains triumph over brawn, and cunning defeats careful planning.
Q6. Discuss the__(__(__(__(__(__(__(significance of__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(__(the title “A Question of Trust.”
Ans: The title “A Question of Trust” is deeply significant and carries multiple layers of meaning that reflect the central themes of the story.
Trust Between Thieves: At its most basic level, the title refers to the question of whether criminals can trust each other. Horace trusted the young woman without verifying her identity, and she betrayed that trust completely. The concept of “honour among thieves” is questioned and found to be a myth. The title asks: Can thieves really trust each other? The answer, as the story shows, is no.
Society’s Trust in Horace: The title also refers to the trust that society placed in Horace Danby. Everyone considered him a good, honest, and respectable citizen. His neighbours, his employees, and his community trusted him completely. This trust was misplaced because Horace was secretly a thief. The title questions whether we can truly trust anyone based on appearances alone.
Horace’s Trust in the Woman: The most direct reference is to Horace’s misplaced trust in the young woman. He trusted her claim that she was the lady of the house, trusted her promise to let him go, and trusted that she would keep her word. This trust was completely betrayed. The title highlights the danger of trusting strangers, especially in situations where one’s judgement is clouded by fear and desperation.
The Irony of Trust: The deepest significance of the title lies in its irony. A thief – a person who breaks other people’s trust for a living – is destroyed by his own misplaced trust. The question the title asks is fundamentally about human nature: In a world where people deceive each other, whom can we really trust? The story suggests that trust must be earned and verified, not blindly given.
Q7. “Lying and stealing are next-door neighbours.” Discuss this statement in the context of “A Question of Trust.”
Ans: The statement “Lying and stealing are next-door neighbours” means that dishonesty in one form leads to dishonesty in another. Lying and stealing go hand in hand – a person who steals must also lie to cover their tracks, and a person who lies is more likely to resort to stealing. The story “A Question of Trust” perfectly illustrates this connection.
Horace’s Lies: Horace Danby lived a double life. He presented himself as an honest, respectable locksmith while secretly robbing safes every year. His entire public persona was a lie designed to cover his stealing. He lied to his neighbours, his employees, and his community. His stealing required lying, and his lying enabled his stealing. The two were inseparable.
The Woman’s Lies: The young woman took lying to an even higher level. She lied about her identity, claiming to be the lady of the house. She lied about forgetting the safe combination. She lied about needing the jewels for a party. Every word she spoke was a lie designed to facilitate her theft. Her lying was the tool she used to steal, proving that the two actions are indeed “next-door neighbours.”
Consequences: The story shows that both lying and stealing lead to negative consequences. Horace’s years of lying and stealing ended in arrest and imprisonment. The woman’s lies, though temporarily successful, represent a life of dishonesty that will eventually catch up with her. The story teaches that honesty is the only path to genuine peace and happiness, and that those who choose the path of dishonesty – whether through lying or stealing – will ultimately face the consequences of their actions.
Q8. Can careful planning guarantee success in criminal activities? Discuss with reference to “A Question of Trust.”
Ans: The story “A Question of Trust” clearly demonstrates that careful planning cannot guarantee success in criminal activities. Despite Horace Danby’s meticulous preparation and fifteen years of successful robberies, he was ultimately caught and imprisoned.
Horace’s Planning: Horace was an exceptionally careful planner. He spent two weeks studying Shotover Grange, learning every detail about the house, its security, the family’s schedule, and the location of the safe. He waited for the perfect moment when the family was away and the servants were out. He wore gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints. His planning was thorough and detailed, covering every foreseeable contingency.
The Unforeseen Factor: Despite all his planning, Horace could not account for the unexpected appearance of the young woman. No amount of planning can prepare a person for every possible scenario. Life is full of unforeseen events and unknown variables that can derail even the most carefully laid plans. Horace had planned for locked doors, burglar alarms, and security systems, but he had not planned for human deception.
The Failure of Planning: When faced with an unexpected situation, Horace’s careful planning collapsed. His fear and panic caused him to make critical mistakes – he removed his gloves, left his fingerprints, and trusted a stranger. All his preparation was rendered useless by a single unplanned encounter. This shows that criminal planning, no matter how thorough, is inherently flawed because it cannot account for human unpredictability.
Conclusion: The story proves that crime does not pay, regardless of how intelligently it is planned. The uncertainty of criminal activity means that every theft carries the risk of failure and capture. Horace’s story is a warning that no criminal is too clever to be caught, and that the only truly safe path is the path of honesty and integrity.
Extract-Based Questions (with Answers)
Extract 1
“Horace Danby was good and, usually, parsing careful and honest, though he himself would never have agreed that he was dishonest… He was about fifty years old and unmarried, and he usually had rather bad nervous attacks of hay fever in summer. He made locks and, helped by two young men, he carried on a successful business.”
Q(a). What does the__(author mean by saying Horace was “good and respectable but not completely honest”?
Ans: The author means that Horace Danby appeared to be a good and respectable citizen to the outside world. He was a successful locksmith, well-liked by everyone, and seemed honest. However, he was “not completely honest” because he secretly robbed one safe every year to buy rare books. He led a double life – outwardly respectable but secretly criminal.
Q(b). What health problem did Horace suffer from?
Ans: Horace suffered from hay fever, especially during the summer months. It caused him to sneeze uncontrollably, his nose would tickle, and his eyes would water. This hay fever played a significant role in the story as his loud sneezing at Shotover Grange attracted the attention of the young woman.
Q(c). What was Horace’s profession?
Ans: Horace was a locksmith by profession. He made locks and ran a successful business with the help of two young men. Ironically, his expertise in making locks also gave him the skill to break into safes.
Q(d). Find a word in the extract that means “not married.”
Ans: The word is “unmarried,” which means not married or single.
Extract 2
“So he robbed a safe every year. Each year he planned carefully just what he would do, stole enough to last for twelve months, and secretly bought the books he loved through an agent.”
Q(a). Who is ‘he’ in this extract? Why did he rob a safe every year?
Ans: ‘He’ refers to Horace Danby, the locksmith who is the protagonist of the story. He robbed a safe every year because he wanted to buy rare and expensive books that he could not afford through his legitimate income. Each year he stole just enough money to last twelve months and used it to purchase books secretly through an agent.
Q(b). How did Horace buy his books?
Ans: Horace bought his books secretly through an agent. He did not buy them directly because that would have raised suspicion about how a locksmith could afford such rare and expensive books. The agent acted as a middleman who purchased the books on Horace’s behalf without revealing his identity.
Q(c). What does the word “secretly” suggest about Horace’s character?
Ans: The word “secretly” suggests that Horace was living a double life. He maintained an outward appearance of respectability and honesty while secretly engaging in criminal activity. He was careful to hide his book purchases because they could reveal his source of income and expose his criminal activities.
Q(d). Give the opposite of “secretly.”
Ans: The opposite of “secretly” is “openly” or “publicly.”
Extract 3
“A small dog was lying in the kitchen. It stirred, made a noise, and moved its tail in a friendly way. ‘All right, Sherry,’ Horace said to it.”
Q(a). Where was the dog lying? What was its name?
Ans: The dog was lying in the kitchen of Shotover Grange. Its name was Sherry.
Q(b). How did the dog react when Horace entered?
Ans: The dog stirred, made a noise, and moved its tail in a friendly way when Horace entered. It did not bark aggressively or try to alert anyone. It was a friendly and gentle dog that accepted Horace’s presence without any alarm.
Q(c). How did Horace know the dog’s name?
Ans: Horace knew the dog’s name because he had spent two weeks carefully studying everything about Shotover Grange before attempting the robbery. During his research, he had gathered information about all aspects of the house, including the name of the family dog. This shows his meticulous approach to planning his robberies.
Q(d). Find a word in the extract that means “moved slightly.”
Ans: The word is “stirred,” which means to move slightly or begin to move after being still.
Extract 4
“You can cure it with a special treatment, you know, if you find out just what plant gives you the disease. I think you’d better see a doctor, if you’re serious about your work.”
Q(a). Who is speaking these lines and to whom?
Ans: The young woman dressed in red, who is pretending to be the lady of the house at Shotover Grange, is speaking these lines to Horace Danby.
Q(b). What disease is being referred to here?
Ans: The disease being referred to is hay fever, a common allergic reaction caused by pollen from certain plants. Horace suffered from hay fever attacks, especially during summer, which caused him to sneeze uncontrollably.
Q(c). What does the speaker mean by “your work”?
Ans: By “your work,” the speaker is cleverly and sarcastically referring to Horace’s work as a thief. She is implying that if he is serious about robbing houses, he should get his hay fever treated so that his sneezing does not give him away. This shows the woman’s wit and her ability to make light of a serious situation while maintaining her control over Horace.
Q(d). Find a word in the extract that means “heal” or “make better.”
Ans: The word is “cure,” which means to heal or make better; to eliminate a disease or condition.
Extract 5
“She laughed, and he begged, thinking that he had persuaded her. ‘Look, I have no right to ask you for anything, but I’m desperate.’”
Q(a). Who are ‘she’ and ‘he’ in this extract?
Ans: ‘She’ is the young woman dressed in red who is pretending to be the lady of Shotover Grange. ‘He’ is Horace Danby, the thief who has been caught while trying to rob the safe.
Q(b). Why was ‘he’ desperate?
Ans: Horace was desperate because he had been discovered while attempting to rob the safe at Shotover Grange. He was terrified of being handed over to the police and going to prison. He was begging the woman to let him go and was willing to do anything she asked in exchange for his freedom.
Q(c). What does the word “persuaded” mean? Give its opposite.
Ans: “Persuaded” means to convince someone to do something through reasoning or argument. Its opposite is “dissuaded,” which means to discourage someone from doing something.
Q(d). What did Horace not know about the woman at this point?
Ans: At this point, Horace did not know that the woman was not actually the lady of the house. He believed her to be the real owner of Shotover Grange. He did not know that she was actually another thief who was manipulating him into opening the safe for her so that she could steal the jewels.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Who is the author of “A Question of Trust”?
(a) Ruskin Bond
(b) H.G. Wells
(c) Victor Canning
(d) Guy de Maupassant
Ans: (c) Victor Canning
Q2. What is Horace Danby’s profession?
(a) Blacksmith
(b) Locksmith
(c) Goldsmith
(d) Carpenter
Ans: (b) Locksmith
Q3. How old is Horace Danby?
(a) Thirty years old
(b) Forty years old
(c) Fifty years old
(d) Sixty years old
Ans: (c) Fifty years old
Q4. What does Horace Danby like to collect?
(a) Rare paintings
(b) Expensive cars
(c) Rare and expensive books
(d) Antique furniture
Ans: (c) Rare and expensive books
Q5. How often does Horace rob a safe?
(a) Every month
(b) Every year
(c) Every two years
(d) Every five years
Ans: (b) Every year
Q6. Which house does Horace target for his robbery?
(a) Greenwood Manor
(b) Shotover Grange
(c) Riverside Estate
(d) Hilltop Villa
Ans: (b) Shotover Grange
Q7. How much were the jewels in the safe worth?
(a) Five thousand pounds
(b) Ten thousand pounds
(c) Fifteen thousand pounds
(d) Twenty thousand pounds
Ans: (c) Fifteen thousand pounds
Q8. What was the name of the dog at Shotover Grange?
(a) Tommy
(b) Buddy
(c) Sherry
(d) Rex
Ans: (c) Sherry
Q9. What health problem does Horace suffer from?
(a) Asthma
(b) Hay fever
(c) Influenza
(d) Common cold
Ans: (b) Hay fever
Q10. What colour dress was the young woman wearing?
(a) Blue
(b) Green
(c) Red
(d) White
Ans: (c) Red
Q11. Where was the safe hidden at Shotover Grange?
(a) Behind a bookshelf
(b) Behind a painting
(c) Under the floor
(d) Inside a wardrobe
Ans: (b) Behind a painting
Q12. In which room was the safe located?
(a) Bedroom
(b) Kitchen
(c) Drawing room
(d) Study room
Ans: (c) Drawing room
Q13. What did Horace forget to wear while opening the safe?
(a) His hat
(b) His mask
(c) His gloves
(d) His shoes
Ans: (c) His gloves
Q14. Where had the family of Shotover Grange gone?
(a) Paris
(b) London
(c) New York
(d) Scotland
Ans: (b) London
Q15. How did Horace learn about the safe and the jewels?
(a) From a servant
(b) By spying on the family
(c) From a magazine article
(d) From a friend
Ans: (c) From a magazine article
Q16. What evidence was found against Horace at the crime scene?
(a) His tools
(b) His gloves
(c) His fingerprints
(d) A photograph
Ans: (c) His fingerprints
Q17. What was the real age of the owner of Shotover Grange?
(a) About thirty
(b) About forty
(c) About fifty
(d) About sixty
Ans: (d) About sixty
Q18. What job does Horace do in prison?
(a) Assistant cook
(b) Assistant librarian
(c) Assistant gardener
(d) Assistant carpenter
Ans: (b) Assistant librarian
Q19. What does Horace get angry about in prison?
(a) Bad food
(b) Lack of books
(c) Talk of “honour among thieves”
(d) His prison sentence
Ans: (c) Talk of “honour among thieves”
Q20. What excuse did the young woman give for needing the jewels?
(a) She wanted to sell them
(b) She needed them for a party
(c) She wanted to give them as a gift
(d) She wanted to keep them in a bank
Ans: (b) She needed them for a party
Q21. How long had Horace been successfully robbing safes?
(a) Five years
(b) Ten years
(c) Fifteen years
(d) Twenty years
Ans: (c) Fifteen years
Q22. How long did Horace study Shotover Grange before the robbery?
(a) One week
(b) Two weeks
(c) Three weeks
(d) One month
Ans: (b) Two weeks
Q23. What did the young woman claim she had forgotten?
(a) The key to the house
(b) The combination number of the safe
(c) Her husband’s phone number
(d) The location of the safe
Ans: (b) The combination number of the safe
Q24. What is the meaning of the word “grange”?
(a) A large garden
(b) A country house or farm
(c) A shopping centre
(d) A government building
Ans: (b) A country house or farm
Q25. What is the meaning of the word “desperate”?
(a) Happy and content
(b) Calm and composed
(c) Feeling hopeless and willing to try anything
(d) Angry and resentful
Ans: (c) Feeling hopeless and willing to try anything
Value-Based Questions
Q1. What values does the story “A Question of Trust” teach us about honesty and integrity?
Ans: The story “A Question of Trust” teaches us several important values about honesty and integrity.
Honesty is the Best Policy: The story demonstrates that dishonesty, no matter how cleverly practised, eventually leads to downfall. Horace Danby was a successful thief for fifteen years, but his life of dishonesty ultimately resulted in imprisonment. His story proves that there is no substitute for genuine honesty.
Crime Does Not Pay: Regardless of the motive or the method, crime always carries consequences. Horace’s refined motive of buying rare books does not excuse his criminal behaviour. The story teaches that there is no such thing as a “justified” crime.
Appearances Can Be Deceptive: Horace appeared to be an honest citizen but was a thief. The young woman appeared to be the lady of the house but was a criminal. The story warns us not to judge people solely by their outward appearance and to be cautious about whom we trust.
The Importance of Integrity: True integrity means being honest in all circumstances, not just when it is convenient. Horace lacked integrity because he maintained a false public image while secretly committing crimes. The story encourages us to live honestly and authentically, aligning our actions with our words.
Q2. “Those who deceive others can themselves be deceived.” How does this moral apply to the story? What lesson can students learn from this?
Ans: This moral is perfectly illustrated in the story “A Question of Trust.” Horace Danby spent fifteen years deceiving others – he pretended to be an honest citizen while secretly robbing safes. He deceived his neighbours, his employees, and the people he stole from. However, when he met the young woman at Shotover Grange, he was completely deceived by her. She tricked him into believing she was the lady of the house, manipulated him into opening the safe, and then disappeared with the jewels while he was arrested.
The irony is clear – a man who had been successfully deceiving others for years was himself deceived by a stranger in a matter of minutes. His experience in deception did not protect him from being deceived. This proves that dishonesty creates a cycle of deception where no one is safe.
Lessons for Students: Students can learn several important lessons from this story. First, they should always be honest in their dealings, because dishonesty breeds more dishonesty. Second, they should not blindly trust strangers, especially in stressful situations when judgement is clouded. Third, they should understand that shortcuts in life – whether in studies, careers, or finances – may seem attractive but eventually lead to failure. Fourth, they should develop strong moral values and the courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult. Living with integrity and honesty is the only path to genuine success and peace of mind.
Q3. What does the story teach us about the consequences of greed and the importance of earning an honest living?
Ans: The story “A Question of Trust” powerfully illustrates the consequences of greed – even when that greed takes a refined form – and emphasises the importance of earning an honest living.
Greed in Disguise: Horace Danby’s greed was not the typical greed for money or luxury. His greed was for rare and expensive books. However, regardless of what one is greedy for, acting dishonestly to satisfy that greed leads to negative consequences. Horace could have found legitimate ways to enjoy books – he could have used libraries, saved money over time, or found more affordable editions. Instead, he chose the easy but dishonest path of stealing, which ultimately destroyed his life.
The Value of Honest Work: Horace was a skilled locksmith who ran a successful business. He had the ability to earn an honest living and live a respectable life. However, his desire for expensive books drove him to criminal activity. The story shows that honest work, no matter how modest, provides lasting security and peace of mind. Horace’s dishonest earnings brought him temporary pleasure but permanent ruin.
Lesson for Students: Students should learn that there are no shortcuts to success. Hard work, patience, and honesty are the foundations of a fulfilling life. Material desires should not drive a person to compromise their values. It is better to live within one’s means honestly than to live beyond one’s means dishonestly. The story of Horace Danby is a cautionary tale that reminds us that the fruits of dishonest labour are always bitter in the end.
Character Sketches
1. Character Sketch of Horace Danby
Horace Danby is the protagonist of the story “A Question of Trust” by Victor Canning. He is a fifty-year-old unmarried man who lives with a housekeeper and runs a successful locksmith business with two helpers.
Outward Appearance: To the outside world, Horace is a model citizen – good, respectable, and honest. He is well-liked by everyone in his community. He is polite, well-mannered, and seemingly trustworthy.
Secret Life: Behind his respectable exterior, Horace is a thief who robs one safe every year to fund his passion for rare and expensive books. He has been doing this successfully for fifteen years, carefully planning each robbery to avoid detection.
Intelligence: Horace is intelligent and meticulous. He plans his robberies with great care, studying every detail of the target house for weeks before making his move. His skill as a locksmith gives him the technical expertise needed to open safes.
Weakness: Despite his intelligence, Horace is naive and easily manipulated when under pressure. When confronted by the young woman, his fear and panic cloud his judgement, causing him to trust a stranger and make critical mistakes like removing his gloves.
Irony: The greatest irony of Horace’s character is that a thief who breaks other people’s trust is undone by his own misplaced trust in a stranger. He represents the idea that dishonesty is ultimately self-defeating.
2. Character Sketch of the Young Woman (The Lady in Red)
The young woman in red is the antagonist of the story. She is never named, which adds to her mysterious and enigmatic nature.
Appearance: She is described as young and pretty, dressed in red. Her attractive appearance and confident demeanour are tools she uses to deceive Horace.
Intelligence: She is extremely intelligent and quick-witted. She assesses the situation instantly and improvises a convincing performance as the lady of the house. She knows the dog’s name, moves around the house with familiarity, and fabricates a believable story about the safe.
Acting Ability: She is a brilliant actress who can adopt any role convincingly. Her performance is so natural and confident that even an experienced thief like Horace is completely deceived. She shows no nervousness or hesitation in her deception.
Cunning: She is more cunning than Horace. While he relies on tools and planning, she relies on psychology and manipulation. She exploits Horace’s fear and desperation to get him to do her bidding. She commits the perfect crime – getting someone else to do the work while she takes the reward and leaves no evidence.
Lack of Honour: She has no “honour among thieves.” She deceives a fellow criminal without any guilt or remorse, using him as a tool and then discarding him. She represents the darker side of criminal intelligence – ruthless, selfish, and completely devoid of moral scruples.
Important Word Meanings
1. Respectable – Regarded by society as being proper, correct, and good.
2. Locksmith – A person who makes and repairs locks.
3. Hay fever – An allergy caused by pollen or dust, resulting in sneezing and watery eyes.
4. Grange – A large country house or farm with associated buildings.
5. Safe – A strong metal box or cabinet used for storing valuables securely.
6. Burglar alarm – A device that makes a loud noise if someone breaks into a building.
7. Sherry – The name of the dog at Shotover Grange.
8. Desperate – Feeling hopeless and ready to do anything to change a bad situation.
9. Persuade – To convince someone to do or believe something through reasoning.
10. Fingerprints – The unique pattern of lines on the tips of fingers, used for identification.
11. Agent – A person who acts on behalf of another, especially in buying or selling.
12. Combination – A sequence of numbers or letters used to open a lock.
13. Honour among thieves – The idea that even criminals follow certain moral codes and do not betray each other.
14. Meticulous – Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
15. Housekeeper – A person employed to manage a household.
Conclusion
“A Question of Trust” is a cleverly written story by Victor Canning that explores themes of deception, trust, irony, and the consequences of dishonesty. Through the characters of Horace Danby and the mysterious young woman in red, the story demonstrates that crime does not pay, that appearances can be deceptive, and that those who deceive others can themselves be deceived. The story’s title questions whether trust can exist among dishonest people, and the answer is a resounding no. This chapter is essential reading for Class 10 students preparing for the HSLC examination under the ASSEB board, as it teaches valuable moral lessons about honesty, integrity, and the importance of earning an honest living.
We hope these solutions for Class 10 English Footprints without Feet Chapter 4 – A Question of Trust have been helpful for your HSLC exam preparation. For more chapter-wise solutions, visit hslcguru.com.