A Question of Trust Notes Chapter 4 English Class 10

Notes For All Chapters English Footprints without Feet Class 10 CBSE

About the Author

• Victor Canning – British writer, famous for adventure and crime stories.
• His works often include clever plots, humour, and unexpected endings.

Characters

1. Horace Danby

• About 50 years old, unmarried, lived with a housekeeper.
• Profession: Made locks and had two helpers.
• Well-known as a good and honest citizen.
• Loved rare and expensive books – his main weakness.
• Robbed a safe once every year to buy books.
• Planned his robberies very carefully and was always successful.
• Suffers from hay fever (sneezes because of flowers/dust).
• Intelligent but too trusting, which leads to his downfall.

2. Young Woman (Fake Lady of the House)

• Beautiful, charming, clever.
• Wore red dress, spoke confidently.
• Pretended to be the owner’s wife.
• Tricked Horace into opening the safe for her.
• True real thief of the story.

3. Sherry (Dog)

• Small and friendly dog in the house.
• Did not attack Horace, wagged its tail when called by name.

Summary of the Story

1. Introduction of Horace Danby
   • Everyone thought Horace was honest.
   • He had been to prison once, 15 years ago.
   • His passion for books forced him to steal every year.
2. Plan to Rob Shotover Grange
   • Horace studied the house carefully for two weeks.
   • He knew about the servants, rooms, wiring, and garden.
   • On the chosen day, servants went to watch a movie.
   • Horace took gloves, tools, and went inside the house.
3. Inside the House
   • Kept gloves on to avoid leaving fingerprints.
   • Called the dog by its name to keep it quiet.
   • Reached the drawing room where the safe was hidden behind a painting.
   • Arranged his tools, ready to open the safe.
4. Entry of the Young Woman
   • A young woman entered and surprised Horace.
   • Pretended to be the owner’s wife.
   • Talked to Horace in a calm and friendly way.
   • Threatened to call the police but then offered a deal.
   • Told him she needed the jewels for a party and had forgotten the numbers of the safe.
   • Requested Horace to open the safe for her.
5. Horace Opens the Safe
   • Horace trusted her and agreed to help.
   • Removed his gloves while helping her.
   • Opened the safe within an hour and gave her the jewels.
   • Left happily, believing he had avoided trouble.
6. The Twist
   • Two days later, Horace was arrested by police.
   • His fingerprints were found all over the room because he had removed his gloves.
   • The real owner’s wife denied asking him for help.
   • Horace realised he had been cheated by another thief.
7. Conclusion
   • Horace was sent to prison and became assistant librarian there.
   • He often thinks of the clever young woman who tricked him.
   • He no longer believes in the saying “honour among thieves.”