A Question of Trust
A Question of Trust Solution, Summary & Word Meaning
A Question of Trust Summary
“A Question of Trust” tells the story of Horace Danby, a seemingly respectable 50-year-old locksmith who has a secret criminal life. Though outwardly honest, Horace has a passion for rare, expensive books that drives him to rob a safe once a year to fund his collection.
One July, Horace targets Shotover Grange for his annual heist. He meticulously plans the robbery, waiting for the servants to leave before entering the house. Inside, he encounters a small dog named Sherry but manages to keep it quiet. As Horace begins working on the safe, he’s interrupted by hay fever and sneezes loudly.
Suddenly, a young woman appears, catching Horace in the act. She’s calm and amused, engaging him in conversation about his hay fever. Horace, hoping to avoid trouble, tries to persuade her to let him go. The woman seems sympathetic but insists that society must be protected from thieves.
In a twist, the woman claims to be the lady of the house who has forgotten the combination to her own safe. She convinces Horace to open it for her, saying she needs her jewels for a party. Horace agrees, thinking he’s found a way out of his predicament.
After successfully opening the safe and handing over the jewels, Horace leaves, promising to give up his criminal ways. However, his freedom is short-lived. Two days later, he’s arrested for the jewel robbery. His fingerprints are found all over the room, and the real lady of the house – a 60-year-old woman – denies Horace’s story about helping her open the safe.
It becomes clear that Horace was tricked by another thief, a clever young woman who exploited his situation. Horace ends up in prison, working as an assistant librarian and feeling bitter about the concept of “honour among thieves.”
The story explores themes of deception, the consequences of dishonesty, and the idea that even careful plans can go awry. It also raises questions about whether good intentions can justify dishonest actions and if there are ever situations where dishonesty might be excusable.
Character Sketches: A Question of Trust
1. Horace Danby:
Horace is a complex character, both respectable and criminal. He’s a 50-year-old unmarried locksmith who appears to be a good citizen on the surface. Intelligent and meticulous, he plans his annual robberies carefully. Horace has a passion for rare books, which drives his criminal behavior. He’s generally kind (even to dogs) and non-violent, seeing himself as somewhat of a gentleman thief who only steals from the wealthy. Despite his criminal activities, Horace has a strong aversion to prison. He’s also prone to hay fever, which ultimately contributes to his downfall. Horace is easily deceived when appealed to his better nature, showing a certain naivety despite his criminal expertise.
2. The Young Woman:
This character is clever, charming, and deceptive. She poses as the lady of the house but is actually another thief. Quick-thinking and adaptable, she manages to turn Horace’s break-in to her advantage. She displays a good understanding of human nature, using a mix of friendliness, implied threat, and appeal to Horace’s gentlemanly nature to manipulate him. Her youth, beauty, and seemingly kind demeanor all work to disarm Horace’s suspicions. She’s clearly experienced in her criminal profession and doesn’t hesitate to let Horace take the fall for her crime.
3. The Real Lady of the House:
Though she appears only briefly at the end of the story, the actual lady of Shotover Grange is described as a grey-haired, sharp-tongued sixty-year-old woman. Her no-nonsense attitude and quick dismissal of Horace’s story suggest a strong personality. The contrast between her and the young woman who tricked Horace is stark, highlighting how effectively the young thief had fooled him.
4. Sherry the Dog:
While not a major character, Sherry the dog plays a small but important role. Friendly and easily placated, Sherry’s behavior adds credibility to the young woman’s pose as the lady of the house, further convincing Horace of her legitimacy.
Difficult Words and Their Meanings
1. Respectable – Regarded with respect; honorable
2. Hay fever – An allergy causing sneezing and watery eyes, typically in response to pollen
3. Rare – Uncommon; scarce
4. Robbed – Stole from
5. Grange – A country house with farm buildings attached
6. Jewels – Precious stones or ornaments
7. Stirred – Moved slightly
8. Sneeze – Suddenly expel air from the nose and mouth due to irritation
9. Burglar alarm – A security device that detects unauthorized entry
10. Hindering – Creating difficulties for; obstructing
11. Ornaments – Decorative objects
12. Inconvenience – Trouble or difficulty
13. Hesitated – Paused before saying or doing something
14. Persuaded – Convinced someone to do something
15. Desperate – Feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with
16. Eager – Strongly wanting to do or have something
17. Mended – Repaired
18. Profession – A paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification
19. Tricked – Deceived or cheated
20. Honour – High respect; esteem
21. Meticulous – Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise
22. Faltered – Lost strength or momentum
23. Housekeeper – A person employed to manage a household
24. Sentence – A punishment given by a judge in court
25. Agent – A person who acts on behalf of another
26. Wiring – The system of wires providing electricity in a building
27. Fingerprints – The impression of a fingertip on a surface
28. Tickle – A light, itchy sensation
29. Servants – People employed to work in a household
30. Burglar – A person who enters a building illegally to steal
31. Drawing room – A room in a house where visitors may be entertained
32. Handkerchief – A square of cloth used for wiping the nose or eyes
33. Culprit – A person responsible for a crime or other misdeed
34. Firmness – The state of being solid, stable, or strong
35. Sharp-tongued – Inclined to make cutting, sarcastic remarks
36. Nonsense – Foolish or meaningless words or actions
37. Subtle – So delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyze or describe
38. Apt – Appropriate or suitable in the circumstances
39. Excusable – Able to be forgiven or justified
Solution to A Question of Trust
READ AND FIND OUT
Q1: What does Horace Danby like to collect?
A1: Horace Danby likes to collect rare, expensive books.
Q2: Why does he steal every year?
A2: He steals every year to fund his passion for collecting rare, expensive books. He robs a safe annually to get enough money to last for twelve months and to secretly buy the books he loves through an agent.
Q3: Who is speaking to Horace Danby?
A3: Initially, Horace Danby believes he is speaking to the lady of the house. However, it is later revealed that he was actually speaking to another thief – a young, clever woman who tricked him.
Q4: Who is the real culprit in the story?
A4: The real culprit in the story is the young woman who pretended to be the lady of the house. She tricked Horace into opening the safe for her, stole the jewels, and let Horace take the blame for the robbery.
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?
A1: Answers may vary, but some possible clues include:
– The woman’s calm reaction to finding a burglar
– Her knowledge of the dog’s name and behavior
– Her willingness to let a stranger open her safe
– The discrepancy between her youthful appearance and Horace’s expectation of the house owners
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?
A2: The lady deceives Horace by:
– Acting calm and authoritative
– Knowing details about the house and the dog
– Pretending to have forgotten the safe combination
– Playing on Horace’s fear of prison
Horace doesn’t suspect because he’s caught off-guard, relieved at the possibility of escaping punishment, and perhaps blinded by her charm and beauty.
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?
A3: This description fits Horace because:
– He maintains a respectable facade as a locksmith
– He only steals once a year and from wealthy people
– His motive is to buy books, not for greed or luxury
– He’s non-violent and tries to avoid harming others
He’s not a typical thief due to his selective, careful approach and his seemingly noble motivation.
Q4: Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?
A4: Horace faltered by:
– Not anticipating the return of a family member
– Letting his guard down when confronted
– Believing the young woman’s story too easily
– Removing his gloves, leaving fingerprints
His usually careful nature was overcome by surprise and the hope of escaping consequences.
Talk about it
Q5: Do you think Horace Danby was unfairly punished, or that he deserved what he got?
A5: This question is subjective and can be argued both ways:
Unfairly punished:
– Horace was tricked by another criminal and took the blame for her crime.
– He didn’t actually steal the jewels himself; he was manipulated into opening the safe.
– His intention was to steal, but he didn’t carry out the act.
Deserved the punishment:
– Horace was in the act of committing a crime when he was caught.
– He had a history of annual robberies, even if they went undetected.
– The law doesn’t differentiate based on the criminal’s motives or who ultimately benefited from the crime.
The answer depends on one’s perspective on justice, intention versus action, and the nature of punishment.
Q6: 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?
A6: This question delves into moral philosophy and ethics. There’s no universally agreed-upon answer, but here are some points to consider:
– Intentions vs. actions: While good intentions can mitigate the moral weight of an action, they don’t necessarily justify it. Horace’s love for books doesn’t justify theft.
– Ends justifying means: This is a contentious philosophical idea. Some argue that if the outcome is good enough, it can justify questionable means. Others believe that the means are equally important and that unethical actions can’t be justified by their results.
– Situational ethics: There might be extreme situations where dishonesty could be seen as excusable (e.g., lying to protect someone from harm). However, this is a slippery slope and can lead to rationalizing unethical behavior.
– Personal values: Each individual must decide for themselves where they draw the line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.