“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?
Horace dandy was good and respectable-but incompletely honest. This description is suitable for Horace. He was approx fifty years old who used to rob only those who were rich and his intention was to buy such unusual and high-priced books with that money. He did cautious preparation and used to stole only once a year which would be enough for twelve long months. His purpose of buying books was good by doing robbery, however, the fact that he used to steal things to achieve this end represented that he was not, he had his own house. He made locks, had two helpers with him, and was a successful businessman. He only stole money just to buy the books. For a couple of days, he even kept his promise to the lady that he met at shotover grange by not stealing or preparing any robbery.
Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?
What does Horace Danby like to collect?
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?
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?
Who is speaking to Horace Danby?
Why does he steal every year?
Who is the real culprit in the story?
Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
How did the invisible man first become visible?
How did a book become a turning point in Richard Ebright’s life?
What kind of a person is Mme Loisel — why is she always unhappy?
Why is the lawyer sent to New Mullion? What does he first think about the place?
Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book’?
Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
“Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read.” What do secret agents in books and films look like, in your opinion? Discuss in groups or in class some stories or movies featuring spies, detectives and secret agents, and compare their appearance with that of Ausable in this story. (You may mention characters from fiction in languages other than English. In English fiction you may have come across Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, or Miss Marple. Have you watched any movies featuring James Bond?)
What more does Bill say about Lutkins and his family?
Why do you think Lutkins’ neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer?
Why are books referred to as a man’s best companion? Which is your favourite book and why? Write a paragraph about that book.
How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room? Look back at his detailed description of it. What makes it a convincing story?
Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning. But only in the last but one paragraph of the story is Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story?
Bholi’s story must have moved you. Do you think girl children are not treated at par with boys? You are aware that the government has introduced a scheme to save the girl child as the sex ratio is declining. The scheme is called Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Save the Girl Child. Read about the scheme and design a poster in groups of four and display on the school notice board.
What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
How is the problem solved?
Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?