A Question Of Trust

A Question of Trust

I) Answer the following questions:

1. What are the subtle ways in which the lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into 

thinking she is the lady of the house? Why doesn’t Horace suspect that something is 

wrong?

Ans) The lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into thinking she is the lady of the house from her appearance, her voice and mannerism. She was quite charming, dressed in red like the lady of the house would be. She spoke with a quiet, kindly voice but with firmness in it. She informed him that she had heard his sneezing from the top of the house implying that, that was where she had her room. She walked to the fireplace and straightened the ornaments there showing her familiarity with the place. The dog Sherry was rubbing against her and she spoke to it in a confident and casual in her behaviour and so Horace does not suspect that something is wrong.

2.Horace Danby was good and respectable — but not completely honest‛. Why do you 

think this description is apt for Horace? Why can’t he be categorised as a typical thief?

Ans) The description is apt for Horace Dancy because everyone thought that he was a 

good and honest citizen. He was about fifty years old and unmarried, and he lived 

with a housekeeper who worried over his health. He was usually very well and 

happy except for attacks of hay fever in summer. He made locks and was successful enough at his business to have two helpers.

Although he was good and respectable, he was not completely honest because 

fifteen years ago, he had served his first and only sentence in a prison library. He 

robbed only from those who had a lot of money and used the money secretly to 

buy rare, expensive books. Although the intention of buying books was good, the 

fact that he had to steal to achieve this end showed that he was not completely honest.

Horace cannot be categorized as a typical thief because he robbed only from those who had a lot of money and use the money secretly to buy rare, expensive books through an agent. Besides, he didn’t rob often but a safe every year. Each year he planned carefully just what he would do and stole enough to last him for twelve months.

3. Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong 

and why?

Ans) Horace Danby failed to get enough information about the real occupants of the 

house. He seems to be too occupied with collecting information about the house 

map, wiring and location of valuable items. Although he was smart enough to know the dog’s actual name, he overlooked getting information about the occupants of the house. When he landed in trouble with the appearance of the young lady, his clever mind gave way to carelessness, leading him to open the safe without wearing gloves.

II)

Answer the following questions in 100-150 words:

1. Horace Danby represents people who adopt the wrong ways to fulfill their wishes. 

What values would you like such people to imbibe to reform themselves? 

Horace Danby was a successful businessman. He was about fifty years old,

respectable citizen but had a habit that led him to do robberies. Danby loved rare, expensive books and to get them he used to rob a safe every year. Every year he planned carefully just to get what he wanted. Danby adopted wrong ways to fulfill his wishes and hence, later got trapped in a plot by a thief like him. People like Horace Danby need to learn that one should work hard to fulfill their desires. So also, money earned fast in this manner does not last longer. They should imbibe the values of honesty, responsibility, hard work, dedication, self-confidence in order to reform themselves.

2. Horace was clever but the lady in red was cleverer. Do you agree with this statement? 

Ans) Yes, I agree with this statement. Horace was clever, as he planned the robbery carefully, studied the target, took the proper tools and also took his gloves, to ensure leaving no fingerprints. But the young lady in red had all the necessary information, and, posing as the mistress of the house, exploited Horace’s fear on being discovered, tricked him into cracking open the safe and handing her the jewels. She even ensured that Horace left his fingerprints at the site, as she distracted him by picking up a cigarette which Horace offered to light after removing his gloves. Thus the lady outwitted him.