“A Question of Trust” by Victor Canning is an interesting story from the NCERT Class 10 English supplementary reader Footprints Without Feet. The chapter revolves around Horace Danby, a clever lock-maker who secretly steals rare jewels to buy expensive books. This lesson highlights trust, deception, intelligence, and irony. Below are detailed answers and explanations for all textbook questions in a portal-ready Unicode format for www.mymockmate.com.
Quick Information Box
Particular
Details
Chapter Name
A Question of Trust
Author
Victor Canning
Class
10
Book
Footprints Without Feet
Genre
Crime & Suspense Story
Main Character
Horace Danby
Key Themes
Trust, Deception, Crime, Irony
Exam Importance
Very Important for CBSE Board Exams
Concepts Used (Topics Covered)
Character Sketch of Horace Danby
Irony in the Story
Theme of Trust and Betrayal
Crime and Punishment
Use of Intelligence and Deception
Moral Values
NCERT Extract-Based Understanding
Important Formulas / Key Literary Points
Although English chapters do not contain mathematical formulas, these literary concepts are important:
Irony → Situation opposite to expectations
Characterisation → Description of characters through actions and dialogues
Theme → Central idea of the story
Suspense → Curiosity created in readers’ minds
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions with Explanation
Question 1
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, it becomes clear before the end of the story that the lady was not the real owner of the house. The suspicion arises when she behaves very calmly after seeing a burglar in her house. Instead of being frightened or calling the police immediately, she talks politely and confidently with Horace Danby.
Another clue is when she asks Horace to open the safe for her because she had “forgotten” the combination numbers. This seems unusual because the real owner or lady of the house would normally know such details. Her confidence and clever manipulation indicate that she herself is a thief pretending to be the lady of the house.
At the end, the truth becomes completely clear when the actual wife of the owner is described as a sixty-year-old gray-haired woman, whereas the young lady who met Horace was young and attractive.
The author gradually builds suspense through the woman’s unusual behaviour. Readers slowly realise that Horace himself has been trapped by a smarter thief.
Question 2
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 in several clever ways:
She enters the house confidently as if she belongs there.
She talks naturally about the house and the jewels.
She behaves calmly and authoritatively.
She scolds the dog lovingly, which creates the impression that the dog knows her.
She mentions her husband and the bank, making her story believable.
Horace does not suspect anything because he is already nervous and afraid of prison. He also finds the woman attractive, charming, and intelligent. Her calm behaviour convinces him that she is genuinely the owner of the house. Moreover, Horace believes he can trust her because she promises not to hand him over to the police.
Explanation
The woman uses psychology and confidence to manipulate Horace. His fear and emotions prevent him from thinking logically.
Question 3
“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 is perfectly suitable for Horace Danby because he appeared to be an honest and respectable citizen in society. He was hardworking, successful in business, polite, and lived a disciplined life. However, he secretly committed theft once every year to buy rare and expensive books.
Unlike ordinary criminals, Horace was educated, cultured, and sensitive. Nevertheless, stealing is morally wrong, so he cannot be considered fully honest.
Explanation
The author creates a complex character who is both respectable and dishonest at the same time.
Question 4
Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?
Answer
Horace Danby was extremely careful in planning robberies. He studied the house, checked the servants’ routine, wore gloves, and knew how to disable alarms. However, he made one major mistake — he trusted the young woman without verifying her identity.
He removed his gloves while lighting her cigarette and later opened the safe without gloves. As a result, his fingerprints remained all over the room. The woman cleverly trapped him and escaped with the jewels.
Horace’s emotions and fear weakened his judgment. His attraction towards the lady and his desperation to avoid prison made him careless.
Explanation
Even the smartest criminals can fail if they become emotional and overconfident.
Think About It – Long Answer Solutions
Question 1
Do you think Horace Danby was unfairly punished, or that he deserved what he got?
Answer
Horace Danby deserved his punishment because stealing is a crime regardless of the reason behind it. Although he loved books and did not harm people physically, he still committed robberies knowingly and repeatedly.
However, readers may feel some sympathy for him because he was deceived by another thief and trapped unfairly. The irony of the story is that a thief himself becomes the victim of theft and deception.
Thus, while the punishment may appear harsh emotionally, legally and morally Horace was guilty and deserved it.
Do intentions justify actions? Would you, like Horace Danby, do something wrong if you thought your ends justified the means? Do you think there are situations in which it is excusable to act less than honestly?
Answer
Intentions alone cannot justify wrong actions. Even if Horace stole for his love of books and not for luxury, stealing remains unethical and illegal.
In real life, honesty and morality are important for maintaining trust in society. Wrong actions often create bigger problems later, just as Horace’s theft led to his arrest.
There may be rare situations where people act dishonestly under extreme pressure or emergencies, but generally honesty should always be preferred. Good goals should be achieved through ethical means.
Explanation
The chapter teaches that noble intentions cannot excuse criminal behaviour.
Common Mistakes Students Make
Writing very short answers without explanation
Ignoring the irony of the story
Confusing the fake lady with the real owner
Missing important character traits of Horace Danby
Forgetting the moral lesson of trust and deception
Exam Tips
Mention “irony” and “deception” in answers for better marks.
Use simple and clear language.
Add character analysis wherever possible.
Write answers in paragraph form with proper explanation.
Revise important incidents from the story carefully.
Practice MCQs
1. Why did Horace Danby steal every year?
A. To become rich B. To buy expensive books C. To travel abroad D. To help poor people
