NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints without Feet

Chapter 4 A Question of Trust

Updated For 2024-2025
Exams

 

READ AND FIND OUT

Q1. What does
Horace Danby like to collect?
Answer:
Horace Danby likes to collect rare and expensive books. He has a passion for
reading and spends the money he steals on purchasing these books through an
agent.

Q2. Why does he
steal every year?
Answer:
Horace Danby steals every year to fund his hobby of collecting rare and
expensive books. He steals just enough to last for twelve months and to buy the
books he loves.

READ AND FIND OUT

Q3. Who is
speaking to Horace Danby?
Answer:
A young woman dressed in red, who pretends to be the lady of the house, is
speaking to Horace Danby. She deceives him into thinking she belongs to the
household and manipulates him into opening the safe for her.

Q4. Who is the
real culprit in the story?
Answer:
The real culprit in the story is the woman who pretended to be the lady of the
house. She tricked Horace into opening the safe and giving her the jewels,
making it appear as though he was the thief.

THINK ABOUT IT

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, the suspicion begins to arise when the lady starts to interact with
Horace. Her calm demeanor, sharpness, and her request to open the safe seem
unusual, especially considering that she allows a burglar to proceed with his
work. The way she casually asks for the jewels and Horace’s immediate trust in
her are early signs that something is wrong. The final revelation confirms that
she was a thief in disguise.

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 deceives Horace by speaking with confidence, being calm, and showing
familiarity with the house. She even interacts with the dog, Sherry, to make
her presence more believable. Horace doesn’t suspect anything because she acts
with such authority and composure that he immediately assumes she is part of
the household. His own desperation to avoid trouble also clouds his judgment.

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:
This description fits Horace because, despite being a thief, he lives a
relatively honest and respectable life in other aspects. He is well-known, runs
a successful business, and only steals once a year to fund his book collection.
He doesn’t steal out of greed but for his passion for books, which makes him
different from a typical thief who steals habitually or for personal gain.

Q4. Horace
Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and
why?
Answer:
Horace Danby went wrong when he trusted the woman without questioning her
identity. His careful planning was undone by his failure to verify whether she
was actually a member of the household. He was easily manipulated by her
confidence and charm, which led to his downfall. Additionally, his decision to
remove his gloves, leaving fingerprints all over the room, was a major mistake.

THINK ABOUT IT

Q1. Do you
think Horace Danby was unfairly punished, or that he deserved what he got?
Answer:
Horace Danby was not entirely unfairly punished because he was, after all,
committing a crime by attempting to steal the jewels. Although he was tricked
by the woman, his intentions were dishonest from the start, and he was breaking
the law. Therefore, even though he was deceived, his punishment for theft was
justified.

Q2. Do
intentions justify actions? Would you, like Horace Danby, do something wrong if
you thought your ends justified the means? Do you think that there are
situations in which it is excusable to act less than honestly?
Answer:
Intentions do not always justify actions. Horace’s desire to collect rare books
may seem harmless, but his actions of stealing to achieve that goal are still wrong.
While people may believe that their reasons for doing something wrong are
justified, it is important to act ethically. There may be situations where
people feel forced to act dishonestly due to difficult circumstances, but such
actions can still have serious consequences. It is better to find ethical ways
to achieve goals.