CBSE Class 10 English – Footprints Without Feet
Chapter 4 : A Question of Trust
20 Important Questions and Answers
Q1. Why was Horace Danby considered a respectable citizen despite being a thief?
Answer:
Horace Danby appeared to be a respectable and honest citizen because he was a successful locksmith and lived a quiet life. He was around fifty years old and was generally polite and well-behaved. People trusted him because he ran a legitimate business and did not attract suspicion. However, behind this respectable image, he secretly committed one theft every year. He stole money and jewels to support his passion for collecting rare and expensive books. Thus, although society considered him trustworthy, he was leading a double life. His character shows that appearances can sometimes be misleading and that people may hide their true nature behind a respectable image.
Q2. Why did Horace Danby steal once every year?
Answer:
Horace Danby had a deep love for rare and expensive books. His regular income from making locks was not enough to satisfy this costly hobby. Therefore, he committed one carefully planned robbery every year and stole enough money to last him for twelve months. He bought books secretly through an agent so that no one would suspect him. Horace did not steal for luxury or pleasure but to maintain his collection of valuable books. This unusual motive made him different from ordinary criminals. His actions show how a strong passion, when pursued dishonestly, can lead a person to commit crimes and eventually face punishment.
Q3. How did Horace prepare for the robbery at Shotover Grange?
Answer:
Horace Danby was a careful and intelligent thief who never acted without planning. Before robbing Shotover Grange, he spent two weeks studying every detail of the house. He observed the rooms, electrical wiring, garden paths, and daily activities of the servants. He learned that the family had gone to London and that the servants would be away at the cinema. He also knew where the key to the kitchen door was kept and where the safe was located. Such detailed preparation made him confident of success. His careful planning shows his experience as a burglar and his determination to avoid mistakes during the robbery.
Q4. What mistake did Horace make during the robbery?
Answer:
Horace Danby’s biggest mistake was trusting a stranger without verifying her identity. When a young woman appeared and claimed to be the owner of the house, he believed her immediately. She acted confidently and convinced him that she had forgotten the combination of the safe. Horace opened the safe for her and handed over the jewels. In doing so, he removed his gloves and left his fingerprints on the safe. Later, the police found these fingerprints and arrested him. His mistake was not a lack of skill but a lack of judgment. The incident teaches that blind trust can lead to serious consequences.
Q5. How did the young lady deceive Horace Danby?
Answer:
The young lady deceived Horace by pretending to be the mistress of Shotover Grange. She appeared calm, confident, and authoritative, which made her story believable. She told Horace that she needed the jewels for a party but had forgotten the combination of the safe. She also threatened to call the police if he refused to cooperate. Afraid of being arrested, Horace agreed to help her. After he opened the safe, she took the jewels and left. Later, Horace discovered that she was actually a clever thief. Her intelligence and confidence enabled her to outsmart an experienced burglar like Horace.
Q6. Why was Horace afraid of going to prison again?
Answer:
Horace Danby hated prison because he had already experienced imprisonment fifteen years earlier. Although he was a thief, he disliked the restrictions and hardships of prison life. When the young woman threatened to call the police, he became nervous and desperate to avoid arrest. His fear made him obedient and prevented him from thinking clearly. Instead of questioning the woman’s identity, he followed her instructions. This fear ultimately led him into a trap. Horace’s reaction shows how strongly past experiences can influence a person’s decisions and how fear can weaken even an intelligent individual’s judgment.
Q7. What role did hay fever play in the story?
Answer:
Hay fever played an important role in the development of the story. While Horace was preparing to open the safe, the scent of flowers in the room irritated his nose and caused him to sneeze. This sneeze attracted the attention of the young woman, who then entered the room and confronted him. If Horace had not sneezed, he might have completed the robbery successfully and escaped unnoticed. Therefore, his hay fever indirectly led to his meeting with the woman who deceived him. The incident shows how a small and ordinary physical problem can unexpectedly change the course of important events.
Q8. Describe Horace Danby’s character.
Answer:
Horace Danby was an intelligent and skilled locksmith who appeared respectable and trustworthy. He was careful, patient, and highly organized in planning his robberies. He loved rare books and stole only to support this expensive hobby. However, he was dishonest and chose crime instead of earning money honestly. Despite being experienced, he was also gullible and easily trusted the young woman who tricked him. His fear of prison further weakened his judgment. Horace’s character combines intelligence with dishonesty and skill with foolishness. Through him, the story shows that even clever people can make serious mistakes when they allow fear and trust to control their actions.
Q9. Why did Horace believe the young woman was the owner of the house?
Answer:
Horace believed the young woman was the owner because she behaved with complete confidence and authority. She seemed calm and spoke naturally as if she belonged to the house. She knew how to control the situation and even threatened to call the police. Her elegant appearance and confident manner convinced Horace that she was telling the truth. Since he was already frightened of being caught, he did not question her identity. Instead, he accepted everything she said. This shows how easily people can be deceived when they judge others only by their appearance and behavior rather than by facts.
Q10. How was Horace finally caught by the police?
Answer:
Horace was arrested because his fingerprints were found on the safe at Shotover Grange. Normally, he wore gloves while committing robberies and avoided leaving any evidence. However, while helping the young woman open the safe, he removed his gloves and handled the safe with bare hands. After the jewels were stolen, the police investigated the crime and discovered his fingerprints. When Horace tried to explain that a young woman had asked him to open the safe, nobody believed him. The real owner was an elderly woman, not the young lady he described. Thus, the evidence against him led to his arrest.
Q11. What is the significance of the title “A Question of Trust”?
Answer:
The title “A Question of Trust” is highly appropriate because trust is the central theme of the story. Horace trusted a stranger without verifying her identity and paid a heavy price for it. Ironically, a thief himself became the victim of another thief’s deception. The story raises important questions about whom we should trust and how easily trust can be misused. It also highlights the irony that even criminals expect honesty from others. The title effectively reflects the events of the story and the lesson that trust should be given carefully and wisely.
Q12. Why is Horace called an unusual thief?
Answer:
Horace is called an unusual thief because his reasons for stealing were different from those of ordinary criminals. He was not interested in luxury, wealth, or a lavish lifestyle. Instead, he stole only once a year to finance his passion for collecting rare and expensive books. He was also a respectable businessman and an expert locksmith. Moreover, he carefully planned each robbery and avoided unnecessary risks. His love for literature and his otherwise respectable lifestyle made him different from common thieves. However, despite these unusual qualities, his dishonesty eventually led to his downfall and punishment.
Q13. What lesson does the story teach about appearances?
Answer:
The story teaches that appearances can be deceptive. Horace appeared to be a respectable citizen, but he was secretly a thief. Similarly, the young woman looked like a wealthy and respectable lady, but she was actually a clever criminal. Both characters hid their true identities behind convincing appearances. Because Horace judged the woman by her appearance and behavior, he trusted her and was deceived. The story warns readers not to make judgments based solely on outward looks. It emphasizes the importance of understanding a person’s true character before placing trust in them.
Q14. How did Horace’s love for books lead to his downfall?
Answer:
Horace’s passion for rare and expensive books motivated him to commit thefts. Although he was skilled and intelligent, he chose dishonest means to satisfy his hobby. His desire to collect books led him to rob safes regularly. During his attempt at Shotover Grange, he trusted a stranger and opened the safe for her. As a result, his fingerprints were left behind, leading to his arrest. If he had pursued his hobby through honest means, he would not have faced such consequences. Thus, his uncontrolled desire for books ultimately pushed him toward crime and brought about his downfall.
Q15. What irony is present in the story?
Answer:
The story contains strong irony because Horace, an experienced thief, is himself robbed and deceived by another thief. He believed he was carrying out a perfect robbery, but instead became a victim of fraud. Another ironic aspect is that a man who made locks for a living specialized in breaking safes. Furthermore, Horace trusted the young woman completely, even though he himself was dishonest. The situation becomes even more ironic when the police refuse to believe his true account because it sounds unbelievable. These ironic situations make the story interesting and highlight the unexpected consequences of dishonesty.
Q16. Why did the young woman ask Horace to open the safe?
Answer:
The young woman asked Horace to open the safe because she wanted to steal the jewels without attracting suspicion. She pretended that she was the owner of the house and claimed that she had forgotten the combination of the safe. Knowing that Horace was skilled at opening safes, she cleverly used his expertise for her own benefit. By making him open the safe, she avoided doing the risky work herself. She then took the jewels and disappeared. Her actions reveal her intelligence, confidence, and ability to manipulate others for personal gain.
Q17. How does the story show that crime does not pay?
Answer:
The story clearly shows that crime eventually leads to punishment. Horace believed that his careful planning would ensure success, but his criminal activities finally caught up with him. Although he had managed several successful robberies in the past, one mistake led to his arrest. His fingerprints on the safe provided clear evidence against him. Moreover, the woman who deceived him escaped with the jewels while he suffered the consequences. The story demonstrates that dishonest actions may seem profitable for a short time, but they often result in failure, loss, and punishment in the end.
Q18. What qualities made the young woman successful in her plan?
Answer:
The young woman succeeded because she was intelligent, confident, and quick-thinking. She remained calm when she encountered Horace and immediately created a believable story. Her confident speech and authoritative manner convinced Horace that she was the owner of the house. She also understood his fear of prison and used it to control him. Instead of panicking, she cleverly turned the situation to her advantage and got Horace to open the safe for her. Her ability to manipulate people and think quickly helped her carry out the theft successfully and escape without suspicion.
Q19. Why did nobody believe Horace’s explanation?
Answer:
Nobody believed Horace because the facts did not support his story. He claimed that a young and attractive woman had asked him to open the safe. However, the actual owner of the house was an elderly woman with grey hair. Since Horace was already known to have committed thefts, the police considered his explanation an attempt to escape punishment. His fingerprints were also found on the safe, which strengthened the evidence against him. As a result, his story sounded unbelievable, and no one accepted his version of events. This shows the importance of credibility and reputation.
Q20. What moral values can students learn from “A Question of Trust”?
Answer:
The story teaches several important moral lessons. First, honesty is always better than dishonesty because crime eventually leads to punishment. Second, people should not trust strangers blindly, no matter how convincing they appear. Third, appearances can be deceptive, so decisions should be based on facts rather than assumptions. The story also shows that intelligence and skill are valuable only when used for the right purposes. Finally, it reminds readers that greed and dishonest desires often result in failure and regret. These lessons make the story meaningful and relevant for students in everyday life.