The Midnight Visitor
The Midnight Visitor Solution, Summary & Word Meaning
The Midnight Visitor Summary
“The Midnight Visitor” is a short story that subverts expectations about secret agents through its protagonist, Ausable. The narrative is presented from the perspective of Fowler, a young writer who meets Ausable expecting a stereotypical spy but is initially disappointed.
Ausable is described as a fat American with a strong accent, residing in a small, unremarkable room in a gloomy French hotel. This portrayal contrasts sharply with the conventional image of a sleek, mysterious secret agent. Ausable is aware of Fowler’s disappointment and humorously acknowledges it, promising that things will soon become more interesting.
True to his word, when they enter Ausable’s room, they encounter an intruder named Max. This slender, fox-faced man is pointing a gun at them, demanding a confidential report about new missiles that Ausable is expecting to receive. Instead of panicking, Ausable calmly sits down and begins to complain about hotel management.
Ausable cleverly invents a story about a balcony outside his window, claiming it’s accessible from another room and that someone had broken in through it before. He then tells Max that he’s arranged for the police to check on him, creating a sense of urgency and tension.
When there’s a knock at the door, Max becomes nervous. Ausable convinces him that it’s the police and that they won’t hesitate to shoot if they enter. Panicked, Max attempts to escape through the window onto the supposed balcony. As he jumps out, he lets out a shrill scream and disappears.
The twist in the story is revealed when the door opens to show a waiter delivering drinks, not the police. Ausable then confesses to the astonished Fowler that there is no balcony at all. His quick thinking and ability to fabricate a convincing lie saved both of them from a dangerous situation.
The story showcases Ausable’s intelligence and presence of mind, proving that appearances can be deceiving. It demonstrates that a secret agent’s most valuable asset is his wit and ability to think on his feet, rather than physical prowess or conformity to spy stereotypes. Ausable’s mundane appearance and setting actually work to his advantage, allowing him to outsmart his enemies through unexpected means.
Character Sketches: The Midnight Visitor
1. Ausable:
Ausable is the protagonist and an unconventional secret agent. He is described as fat, with a strong American accent from Boston that he hasn’t lost despite living in Paris for twenty years. Despite his unassuming appearance, Ausable is incredibly clever and quick-thinking. He demonstrates a calm demeanor under pressure and an ability to fabricate convincing stories on the spot. His intelligence and wit are his greatest assets, allowing him to outsmart dangerous situations without resorting to violence. Ausable’s sense of humor is evident in his self-awareness about not fitting the typical spy image.
2. Fowler:
Fowler is a young, romantic writer who serves as the narrator of the story. He is initially disappointed by Ausable’s appearance and demeanor, having expected a more stereotypical secret agent. Fowler is observant but naive, taking things at face value until the final reveal. His presence in the story allows readers to experience the events through the eyes of an outsider, enhancing the surprise of Ausable’s clever deception.
3. Max:
Max is the antagonist, described as slender and fox-faced. He is a rival spy who breaks into Ausable’s room to steal an important report. Max is portrayed as competent and threatening, armed with a gun and confident in his mission. However, he becomes nervous when faced with the possibility of confronting the police, revealing a certain level of insecurity. His downfall comes from believing Ausable’s lie about the balcony, demonstrating that he can be outsmarted despite his seemingly advantageous position.
Difficult Words and Their Meanings
1. Musty: Stale, moldy, or damp in odor; lacking freshness
2. Gloomy: Dark or dimly lit; depressing or dismal
3. Passably: Just well enough; tolerably well
4. Espionage: The practice of spying or using spies to obtain information
5. Wheezily: In a way that produces a whistling sound while breathing
6. Prosaic: Ordinary, unromantic, or dull
7. Chuckled: Laughed quietly or inwardly
8. Disillusioned: Disappointed in someone or something that one discovers to be less good than one had believed
9. Authentic: Genuine or real
10. Automatic (pistol): A handgun that automatically loads the next bullet after firing
11. Countenance: A person’s face or facial expression
12. Menacing: Threatening or sinister
13. Grimly: In a very serious, gloomy, or determined way
14. Inflection: A change in the pitch or tone of a person’s voice
15. Irritation: The state of feeling annoyed, impatient, or angry
16. Moodily: In a gloomy, unhappy, or depressed manner
17. Evilly: In a wicked or harmful manner
18. Shrilly: In a high-pitched and piercing way
19. Deftly: In a skillful, clever, or nimble way
20. Envisioned: Imagined or visualized
21. Sloppy: Careless, messy, or untidy
22. Blinked: Closed and opened the eyes quickly
23. Crafty: Clever in a deceptive or cunning way
24. Nuisance: Something that is annoying or troublesome
25. Explanatorily: In a manner that provides explanation
26. Stiffly: In a rigid or unyielding manner
27. Commandingly: In an authoritative or domineering way
28. Gesture: A movement of part of the body to express an idea or meaning
29. Nervously: In an anxious or apprehensive way
30. Swiftly: Quickly or promptly
31. Twisted: Turned or bent into a different shape
32. Grasped: Seized or held firmly
33. Uncorked: Removed the cork from (a bottle)
34. Stammered: Spoke with sudden pauses and repetition of sounds
35. Sighed: Exhaled audibly in a long, deep breath
36. Presence of mind: The ability to remain calm and think clearly in a crisis
Solution to The Midnight Visitor
READ AND FIND OUT
Q1: How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
A1: Ausable is different from typical secret agents in several ways:
– He is very fat, contrary to the usual image of a fit and agile spy.
– He has a strong American accent from Boston, which he hasn’t lost even after 20 years in Paris.
– He lives in a small, unremarkable room in a gloomy French hotel, unlike the glamorous settings often associated with spies.
– His demeanor is calm and humorous, even in dangerous situations.
– He relies on his wit and quick thinking rather than physical prowess or high-tech gadgets.
Q2: Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day?
A2: Fowler is a young, romantic writer who meets Ausable expecting to encounter a typical secret agent. His first authentic thrill of the day comes when he enters Ausable’s room and sees a man (Max) standing there with a gun, creating a genuine moment of danger and excitement.
Q3: How has Max got in?
A3: Max claims to have entered Ausable’s room using a passkey.
Q4: How does Ausable say he got in?
A4: Ausable invents a story about a balcony outside his window. He claims that his room used to be part of a larger unit, and the balcony belonging to the adjacent room now extends under his window. He says that someone can access this balcony from an empty room two doors down, implying that this is how Max entered.
Think about it
Q1: “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.
A1: This answer will vary based on individual opinions and discussions, but here’s a general response:
Typical secret agents in books and films are often portrayed as:
– Physically fit and attractive
– Well-dressed, often in suits or disguises
– Skilled in combat and use of weapons
– Charismatic and smooth-talking
– Tech-savvy, using advanced gadgets
Examples might include James Bond, Jason Bourne, or Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible. In contrast, Ausable is fat, speaks with an accent, lives in a small, unremarkable room, and relies more on his wit than physical prowess or gadgets.
Q2: 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?
A2: Ausable’s story is convincing because:
– He provides specific details about the room’s history (part of a larger unit)
– He explains the balcony’s current unusual position (extending under his window)
– He mentions a previous break-in through the balcony, adding credibility
– He complains about management not fixing the issue, which sounds realistic
– His calm and irritated demeanor while explaining makes the story seem genuine
– He ties the explanation to a visible feature (the window) in the room
Q3: Looking back at the story, when do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max? Do you think he had worked out his plan in detail right from the beginning? Or did he make up a plan taking advantage of events as they happened?
A3: It appears that Ausable improvised his plan as events unfolded:
– He likely invented the balcony story on the spot when confronted by Max
– He took advantage of the unexpected knock on the door (which turned out to be the waiter) to create the illusion of police presence
– His quick thinking allowed him to adapt to the situation and use the imaginary balcony as a means of escape for Max
Ausable’s ability to think quickly and create a convincing narrative suggests he’s skilled at improvising rather than having a pre-planned strategy. His calm demeanor and the seamless way he builds upon his initial lie indicate his expertise in handling unexpected situations.
Talk about it
Q1: In this story, Ausable shows great ‘presence of mind,’ or the ability to think quickly, and act calmly and wisely, in a situation of danger and surprise. Give examples from your own experience, or narrate a story, which shows someone’s presence of mind.
A1: This answer will vary based on personal experiences. However, here’s an example response:
“I once witnessed a situation at a busy intersection where a car suddenly stalled in the middle of the road. The driver, instead of panicking, quickly turned on the hazard lights and calmly stepped out of the car. He gestured to other drivers to go around while he tried to push his car to the side of the road. A couple of bystanders, seeing his composed demeanor, came to help him push the car. Within minutes, the potential traffic chaos was averted thanks to the driver’s quick thinking and calm actions.”
Q2: Discuss what you would do in the situations described below. Remember that presence of mind comes out of a state of mental preparedness. If you have thought about possible problems or dangers, and about how to act in such situations, you have a better chance of dealing with such situations if they do arise.
A2: Here are possible responses for each situation:
1. A small fire starts in your kitchen:
– Turn off the gas/electricity source if safe to do so
– Use a fire extinguisher or baking soda for small fires
– If the fire grows, evacuate immediately and call the fire department
2. A child starts to choke on a piece of food:
– Perform the Heimlich maneuver if the child is over one year old
– For infants, use back blows and chest thrusts
– Call for emergency services if the obstruction isn’t cleared quickly
3. An electrical appliance starts to hiss and gives out sparks:
– Unplug the appliance immediately if safe to do so
– Turn off the main power supply
– Use a fire extinguisher suitable for electrical fires if necessary
– Call an electrician or the fire department if the situation seems dangerous
4. A bicycle knocks down a pedestrian:
– Check for injuries and call for medical help if needed
– Move the injured person only if they’re in immediate danger
– Exchange contact information with all involved parties
– Report the incident to local authorities if required
5. It rains continuously for more than twenty-four hours:
– Monitor local weather reports and flood warnings
– Move valuable items to higher ground
– Prepare an emergency kit with essentials
– Be ready to evacuate if instructed by authorities
6. A member of your family does not return home at the usual or expected time:
– Try to contact them via phone, text, or social media
– Check with their friends, workplace, or school
– If there’s still no contact, inform the local police
– Provide recent photos and descriptions to authorities if needed