Notes For All Chapters English Footprints without Feet Class 10 CBSE
Boys see footprints from nowhere
The two boys were surprised to see the fresh muddy imprints. These were of a pair of bare feet. As they gazed, a fresh footmark appeared from nowhere. Then they saw further steps down the street. Thereafter, they disappeared.
Footprints of Griffin, an invisible scientist
These footprints were of a scientist named Griffin. He had just discovered how to make the human body transparent. He swallowed some drugs. His body became as transparent as a sheet of glass. It was before his footprints being seen.
Griffin a lawless person
But Griffin was rather a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge Griffin set fire to the house. He had to remove his clothes to get away. So he became a homeless wanderer, without clothes or money. The two boys had seen him thus.
Griffin’s escape
Griffin escaped from the boys. He was without clothes in mid-winter at that time. Instead of walking about the streets, he entered a big London store for warmth. He broke open boxes. He fitted himself with warm clothes. He had shoes, an overcoat, a hat but was invisible. He took cool meat and coffee in a restaurant. He also took meal, sweets, wine etc, in a grocery store. Finally, he slept on a pile of quilts inside.
Griffin chased away
He did not wake up till the next morning. When the servants came, he began to run. They chased him. He escaped by taking off his newly-found clothes. This time he entered a theatrical company. He hoped to find some clothes. Shivering with cold he hurried to Drury Lane. It was the centre of the theatre world.
Enters a shop
He soon found a suitable shop. He went upstairs but came out a little later. He was now wearing bandages. Those were round his forehead. He wore dark glasses, false nose and big bushy side-whiskers. He attacked a shopkeeper. Then he robbed him of all his money. He then went to Iping village from London. There he booked two rooms at the local inn belonging to Mrs Hall.
Arrives in an inn
The arrival of a stranger at an inn in winter amazed the villagers. Mrs Hall, the landlord’s wife, wanted to be friendly with him. But he told her that he did not want to be disturbed. He also told her that an accident had affected his face.
Stealing of money by Griffin
The stolen money did not last long. He, however, pretended that he was expecting some money at any moment. Shortly afterwards, a curious episode occurred. Griffin had made himself invisible. He entered a clergyman’s house. The clergyman awoke and he asked him to surrender. But he could see no one. He realized the room was empty. Yet the desk had been opened and the money was missing. It was extraordinary for the clergyman.
Surprise of Mrs Hall
The landlord and his wife Mrs Hall were up very early. They were surprised to see the scientist’s door wide open. They peeped round but saw nobody. Clothes, bandages etc, were the room. Everything was in disorder
Mrs Hall in great terror
All of a sudden Mrs Hall heard a sniff close to her ear. Then the bedpost leapt up. It dashed itself into her face. Both of them turned away in terror. A chair pushed both out of the room. Mrs Hall almost fell down crying. She felt sure that the room was haunted by spirits.
Griffin suspected as a thief
Soon the burglary in the clergyman’s house became known. The strange scientist was suspected of having a hand in it. The suspicion became stronger as he produced ready cash. Earlier he had admitted of not having any.
The truth is out
The village constable was secretly called. But Mrs Hall did not wait for the constable. She went to the scientist. She asked him what he had been doing to her chair upstairs. She wanted to know how he had entered a locked room. At this the scientist grew angry. He suddenly shouted at her. He then threw off bandages, spectacles, nose etc. He had become invisible. The horrified people now saw at a headless person.
Constable Jaffers’ problem
Mr Jaffers, the constable, arrived. He was surprised that he had to arrest a man without a head. But he had to arrest him in any case. So he tried to catch the scientist. But he was throwing off one garment after another. The constable found himself struggling with someone he could not see at all. Some people tried to help him. But they received blows only from invisible Griffin.
Griffin vanishes
In the end, Jaffers became unconscious. There were cries of‘Hold him’. But Griffin had freed himself. No one knew where to lay hand on him.
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