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CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet – A Question of Trust Summary

A Question of Trust Summary Footprints without feet

Chapter 4 of the Class 10 English Supplementary Reader ‘Footprints Without Feet’ consists of a prose titled – A Question of Trust. This story is about a thief named Horace Danby, who eventually fell victim to his fraudulent ways. Horace would occasionally indulge in theft, and during one such burglary at a grand mansion, he encountered a woman who cheated him. Trusting her blindly, Horace was misguided and ultimately found himself behind bars.
Here’s a simple summary of the prose–  A Question of Trust.

Summary of A Question of Trust

“A Question of Trust,” written by Victor Canning, tells the story of Horace Danby, a thief who maintained the appearance of a good citizen. Horace, an unmarried fifty-year-old locksmith, was a successful businessman with two assistants. Despite his respectable appearance, he wasn’t a sincere man. He had a passion for rare and fancy books, which he would purchase by any means necessary. To fund this expensive hobby, Horace would rob a safe once a year, purchasing the books sneakily through an agent. Horace carefully planned each burglary. This time, his target was a house at Shotover Grange. He spent two weeks carefully studying its rooms, electrical wiring, pathways, and garden to prepare for the theft.

The family residing in the house was away in London. One fine afternoon, the two caretakers went to watch a movie, and Horace realized it was the perfect opportunity to execute his plan. Emerging from behind a garden wall, he approached the house with his tools packed in his bag. He found a key hanging on a hook by the kitchen door. Quickly donning gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints, he took the key, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. There, he encountered the dog, Sherry, who greeted him with a wagging tail.

Danby was aware that the safe lurked behind an unassuming painting in the drawing room. A beautiful vase filled with flowers adorned the nearby table, yet he found himself allergic to their fragrance. Despite his discomfort, he continued, his nose tickling and sneezing constantly as he began his work, cutting the wires of the burglar alarm. Suddenly, amidst another round of sneezes, he heard the voice of a young lady standing in the doorway behind him.Dressed in red, she claimed to be the wife of the house owner, skillfully persuading Horace with her story. She explained that she had arrived unannounced to retrieve her jewels for an evening party.
Fearing the lady might turn him over to the police, Danby pleaded with her to let him go. She agreed, but only on the condition that he open the safe for her, where she claimed to have left all her jewels. Admitting she had forgotten the combination, she appealed to Danby for help. He obliged, removing his gloves and unlocking the safe. Seizing the opportunity, the young lady swiftly grabbed the jewels. Danby departed the house, believing he had escaped imprisonment. Initially, he kept his promise to her. However, on the third day, a policeman arrested him for the burglary of jewels at Shotover Grange.
Horace Danby’s fingerprints were found all over the crime scene, leading to his eventual confession. He admitted to opening the safe for the young lady but claimed he didn’t steal the jewels. However, it turned out the lady was a fellow thief who manipulated him into helping her burglary. When he shared this with the police, his story was dismissed, as the homeowner’s wife was a sixty-year-old woman, not the one Danby described. Instantly arrested, he found himself imprisoned for the robbery. In prison, he took on the role of assistant librarian. He often recalled the cunning lady who had cheated him, feeling a mix of anger and betrayal whenever someone mentioned the phrase “honour among thieves.”

Conclusion of A Question of Trust

In the end, “A Question of Trust” shows us how tricky lying and trusting others can be. Someone Horace Danby thought he could trust tricks him, even though he used to steal things himself. His story teaches us that lying and trust are fragile, even for people who break the rules. As Danby sits in prison, his story reminds us that being dishonest can have serious consequences.

We trust that this summary of the CBSE Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Prose, “A Question of Trust,” has provided you with a quick grasp of the chapter. Stay connected with GK Publications for the latest updates on CBSE and study materials. Explore sample papers and question papers from various years to enhance your preparation for the Board exams.

Related Resource: CBSE Class 10th 2024: Chapter and TopicWise English Language & Literature Solved Papers

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