NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (Footprints without Feet) Chapter 4 A Question of Trust

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 10th

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Class : 10th
Subject : English-2
Chapter : 4
Chapter Name : A Question of Trust

Q1 What does Horace Danby like to collect?

Answer. Horace Danby liked to collect rare and expensive books.

Page : 20 , Block Name : Read And Find Out

Q2 Why does he steal every year?

Answer. He stole every year so that he could buy the rare and expensive books that he loved to
collect. Each year, he planned carefully, stole enough to last twelve months, and secretly bought
the books, through an agent.

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Q3 Who is speaking to Horace Danby?

Answer. A lady standing in the doorway was speaking to Horace Danby. She was young and
pretty, and was dressed in red. She said she had come just in time, or else her family would have
been robbed by Horace. She, thus, pretended to be one of the members of the family living at
Shotover Grange.

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Q4 Who is the real culprit in the story?

Answer. The real culprit was the woman who pretended to be a member of the family living at
Shotover Grange. She tricked Horace into believing her, and cleverly took away all the jewels that
were kept in the safe.

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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?

Answer. Yes, one does begin to suspect before the end of the story that the lady was not the

person Horace Danby took her to be. She was unusually calm on seeing Horace. This seemed
strange enough. When she did not call the police, and instead asked Horace to take out all the
jewels from the safe, even if it meant breaking it open, it seemed suspicious. Moreover, it also
seemed unlikely that she would forget the numbers to open the safe. Therefore, it was evident,
before the story ended, that the lady was not the person Horace had taken her to be.

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 doesn’t Horace suspect that something is wrong?

Answer. The lady managed to deceive Horace Danby into thinking that she was the lady of the
house with her subtle ways. She was dressed up pretty well, just like the lady of the house would
be dressed. Also, her manner of talking calmly, the way in which she petted the dog, and her
going to the replace to straighten the ornaments there showed her familiarity with the place.
She regulated her tone and voice according to the situation. Sometimes, she talked in a kind
voice. At other times, she spoke in a serious manner. She would laugh occasionally, and then,
suddenly, her voice would become sharp. She spoke about how society should be protected from
men like Horace. Because of all these things, Horace could not suspect that she was not the lady
of the house. He was nervous himself, and was scared of getting caught. The moment he saw
that she would let him go, he quickly broke open the safe for her, and promised not to rob again.
According to the narrator, he was a ‘good, honest citizen’. This was why Horace could not
suspect anything.

Q3 “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?

Answer. “Horace Danby was good and respectable − but not completely honest”. This description
is apt for Horace. He was about fty years old. He robbed only from rich people, and his purpose
was to buy rare and expensive books with the money. He stole only once a year. The intention of
buying books was good. However, the fact that he stole to achieve this end showed that he was
not completely honest. He cannot be categorized as a typical thief because he did not steal to eat
or drink. He had a house. He made locks, had two people to help him, and was successful in his
business. He only stole enough money to buy the books. For a couple of days, he even kept his
promise to the lady he met at Shotover Grange by not stealing or planning any robbery.

Q4 Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and
why?

Answer. Horace Danby was a meticulous planner, but still he faltered. He used to plan his
robberies very well. He knew all the details of the Shotover Grange. He knew the time when there

would be no one at the house. He even knew the name of the dog in the house. However, he was
completely deceived by the lady he met at the house. He was outdone by her. He was taken in by
her subtle ways, and did not realize that she herself could have been a thief. On seeing her, he
got scared and started begging her to let him go. When she asked him to take out the jewels for
her, he readily agreed. He did not feel any oddity in her leaving him, and not getting him
arrested. He was only too happy and thankful that he could go. In his hurry, he even overlooked
the fact that his ngerprints were left all over the safe. He blindly believed the lady, and thus, in
spite of his meticulous planning, he faltered.

Q1 Do you think Horace Danby was unfairly punished, or that he deserved what he got?

Answer. He deserved what he got. A crime is a crime no matter if it is committed a hundred
times or just once.

Page : 25 , Block Name : Talk About It

Q2 Do intentions justify actions? Would you, like Horace Danby, do something wrong if you
thought your ends justi ed the means? Do you think that there are situations in which it is
excusable to act less than honestly?

Answer. “Ends do not justify means", this is a very Old and time tested saying. For own bene t
nobody should harm Others. But this world doesn’t function on idealism. There are many
examples of people duping for quick gains. These acts should deplored and dealt with severely

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