Quick Revision Notes

Class 10 English: Footprints Without Feet

Chapter: A Question of Trust

1. Introduction & Overview

• Author: Victor Canning
• Protagonist: Horace Danby
• Theme: "Honor among thieves" is a myth. Crime does not pay, and trust can be manipulated even by those who appear innocent. Trust is broken, and dishonesty leads to betrayal.

2. Character Profiles

• Horace Danby:

  • Profession: Locksmith (makes safe locks).
  • Age: About 50 years old, unmarried.
  • Reputation: Good, respectable citizen in the community.
  • Secret Habit: He is a meticulous thief. He robs only one safe a year to fund his expensive hobby—collecting rare and expensive books.
  • Physical Weakness: He suffers from hay fever (dust allergy) in summer, which causes him to sneeze.

• The Young Lady (The Other Thief):

  • Appearance: Beautiful, wearing red, confident, and highly composed.
  • Role: Pretended to be the owner of the house (Shotover Grange).
  • Action: Tricked Horace into opening the safe for her under the false pretext that she had forgotten the numbers, thereby making him leave his fingerprints everywhere.

3. Chapter Summary / Plot Points

1. Horace’s Lifestyle: Everyone thought Horace Danby was a good, honest man. However, every year he planned a robbery carefully to buy the books he loved.
2. The Target: Shotover Grange was his chosen target for that year. He studied the house, the electric wiring, the garden, and the dog (Sherry) for two weeks.
3. The Execution: Horace entered the house when the servants were out. His hay fever started acting up due to the flowers in the room.
4. The Twist: Suddenly, a young, pretty woman in red appeared from the doorway. Instead of panicking, she spoke calmly, acting as if she lived there.
5. The Trap: Horace was scared of going to prison. The lady used this fear. She promised not to hand him over to the police if he opened the safe for her because she wanted to wear her jewels to a party and had forgotten the combination numbers.
6. The Mistake: Horace removed his gloves to open the safe, leaving his fingerprints all over the place. He successfully opened the safe and handed over the jewels.
7. The Betrayal: Two days later, the police arrested Horace. His fingerprints were found all over the room because he hadn't worn his gloves while opening the safe.
8. The Irony: The real owner of the house was a sixty-year-old woman, and the "young lady" was actually an accomplice from the other thief's gang. Horace was deeply angry because he realized he had been tricked by another thief. Now, Horace is a regular assistant librarian in prison and gets angry whenever anyone talks about "honor among thieves."

4. Important Vocabulary & Meanings

• Hay fever: An allergy caused by pollen or dust causing sneezing and watery eyes.
• Meticulous: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
• Burglary: Illegal entry of a building with intent to commit a crime, especially theft.
• Clever: Quick to understand, learn, and devise ideas.
• Puzzled: Unable to understand; confused.
• Interrupted: Stopped a continuous action or process.

5. Important Examination Questions & Answers

• Q1: Who is the real thief in the story?

  • Ans: Both Horace Danby and the young lady in red are thieves. However, the young lady is cleverer; she tricks Horace into doing the dirty work for her and cleverly escapes with the jewels while framing Horace.

• Q2: Why did Horace Danby steal only once a year?

  • Ans: Horace stole only once a year because he wanted enough money to buy rare and expensive books, which he loved to collect. Stealing in small amounts helped him live quietly without arousing suspicion.

• Q3: How did the lady in red manage to outwit Horace Danby?

  • Ans: The lady acted with extreme confidence, pretending to be the mistress of the house. She threatened to call the police, played on his fear of prison, and convinced him to open the safe for her. This forced Horace to take off his gloves, trapping him with his fingerprints left behind.

6. Quick Revision Tips for MP Board Exams

• Remember the Name: Author – Victor Canning, Character – Horace Danby.
• Key Concept: Always mention Horace's allergy (hay fever) in answers related to how he was caught (sneezing led the dog to bark, and later he removed gloves).
• Moral of the Story: Do not trust strangers blindly; crime never succeeds in the long run.