Chapter 4: A Question of Trust (VICTOR CANNING)

Table of Contents

• Horace Danby’s Peculiar Hobby
• The Planned Robbery
• Encounter with the Lady in Red
• The Double-Cross
• Irony of the Situation

1. Horace Danby’s Peculiar Hobby

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Character Profile: Horace Danby is a skilled locksmith and a habitual criminal who steals from the wealthy.
• Peculiar Hobby: His “hobby” refers to his illegal practice of robbing wealthy individuals.
• Motivation: Danby is driven by the need to fund his lifestyle and the desire to avoid being caught.

Important Elements

• Character Traits:
  • Calm and Calculated: Danby plans his crimes meticulously.
  • Cynical: He distrusts others and believes he is the only one who can avoid detection.
• Significance: His hobby highlights the theme of moral ambiguity and the corruption of trust.

Exam Tips

• Focus on Character Analysis: Highlight Danby’s duality as a skilled professional and a criminal.
• Key Question: Why does Danby believe he can avoid detection?
  • Answer: He is a skilled locksmith, and his planning ensures he leaves no trace.

Common Errors

• Misunderstanding Danby’s Motivation: Students may confuse his criminal activity with a “hobby” without analyzing his psychological state.

2. The Planned Robbery

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Plot Structure: The story follows Danby’s preparation for a robbery at a wealthy man’s house.
• Foreshadowing: Details like the “locked room” and “no witnesses” hint at the crime’s complexity.

Important Elements

• Planning Process:
  • Danby uses a copy of the house key and disguises to avoid detection.
  • He relies on trust in the “Lady in Red,” whom he believes will help him.
• Significance: The meticulous planning underscores his professionalism and the high stakes of his crime.

Exam Tips

• Focus on Plot Development: Link the planning to the story’s climax.
• Key Question: What role does the “Lady in Red” play in Danby’s plan?
  • Answer: She is a decoy; Danby believes she will guide him to the safe.

Common Errors

• Confusing the Lady in Red with the Actual Victim: Students may overlook her role as a decoy.

3. Encounter with the Lady in Red

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Character Profile: The Lady in Red is a decoy created by the police to trap Danby.
• Themes: Trust vs. Deception, Moral Justice, and Identity.

Important Elements

• Dialogue and Interaction:
  • The Lady in Red appeals to Danby’s vanity by flattering him.
  • Her calm demeanor contrasts with Danby’s nervousness.
• Significance: This encounter reveals Danby’s vulnerability and the power of manipulation.

Exam Tips

• Analyze Dialogue: Highlight how the Lady in Red uses psychological tactics to exploit Danby.
• Key Question: Why does the Lady in Red pretend to be a victim?
  • Answer: To lure Danby into a trap and expose his criminal behavior.

Common Errors

• Misinterpreting the Lady’s Motives: Students may assume she is a genuine victim rather than a decoy.

4. The Double-Cross

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Plot Twist: The Lady in Red reveals her true identity as a police officer.
• Themes: Betrayal, Justice, and Consequences of Trust.

Important Elements

• Turning Point:
  • Danby’s trust in the Lady leads to his capture.
  • The police double-cross him by using a copy of the key to frame him.
• Significance: The twist underscores the fragility of trust and the cost of deception.

Exam Tips

• Focus on the Twist: Explain how the double-cross subverts Danby’s expectations.
• Key Question: How does the double-cross highlight the theme of trust?
  • Answer: Danby’s trust in the Lady leads to his downfall, emphasizing that trust can be manipulated.

Common Errors

• Overlooking the Police’s Role: Students may miss the police’s involvement in the plan.

5. Irony of the Situation

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Situational Irony: The unexpected outcome where Danby’s plan backfires.
• Verbal Irony: The Lady in Red’s flattery contrasts with her deception.

Important Elements

• Irony Analysis:
  • Danby’s belief in his own cunning is mocked by the twist.
  • The Lady’s identity as a police officer mocks his assumption of trust.
• Significance: Irony reinforces the story’s moral message about trust and deception.

Exam Tips

• Identify Irony Types: Distinguish between situational and verbal irony in the text.
• Key Question: What is the irony in Danby’s fate?
  • Answer: He is captured by the very person he trusted, and his plan is foiled by a police decoy.

Common Errors

• Confusing Irony Types: Students may conflate situational irony with verbal irony.

Practice Questions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What is Horace Danby’s “peculiar hobby”?
   a) Painting
   b) Robbing the wealthy
   c) Writing poetry
   d) None of the above

   • Answer: b

2. Who is the Lady in Red?
   a) A genuine victim of the robbery
   b) A police officer in disguise
   c) Danby’s wife
   d) A friend of the wealthy man

   • Answer: b

Short Answer Questions (SAQs)

1. Why does Danby trust the Lady in Red?

   • Answer: He believes she is a victim and uses her to locate the safe, unaware she is a police decoy.

2. What is the significance of the “double-cross”?

   • Answer: It highlights the theme of trust being manipulated and the consequences of deception.

Long Answer Questions (LAQs)

1. Discuss the irony in Horace Danby’s situation.
   • Answer: Danby’s trust in the Lady in Red leads to his capture, subverting his belief in his own cunning. The situational irony emphasizes that trust can be exploited, and the police’s use of a decoy mocks his assumptions.

Quick Revision Facts

• Main Characters:
  • Horace Danby: Skilled locksmith, habitual criminal.
  • Lady in Red: Police officer in disguise.
• Themes: Trust, deception, justice, and moral ambiguity.
• Key Message: Trust can be manipulated, and deception often leads to downfall.

Important Points to Remember

• Character Analysis: Focus on Danby’s duality and the Lady’s role as a decoy.
• Themes: Always connect literary elements to the central message.
• Exam Strategy: Use direct quotes from the text to support answers.

Note: This content strictly adheres to the NCERT Class 10 syllabus and CBSE guidelines, emphasizing critical analysis, character study, and thematic understanding.