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A Question of Trust

NCERT Class 10 · English Based on NCERT Class 10 English textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter explores the irony of trust and deception through the story of Horace Danby, a respectable locksmith who steals to fund his passion for rare books. It is included in the syllabus to examine moral ambiguity, the concept of 'honour among thieves,' and how appearances can be deceiving. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that trust can be misplaced, and even a clever thief can be outwitted by someone more cunning, highlighting that there is no honour among thieves.
Key Concepts (12)
Honour among thieves
The supposed code of loyalty and honesty that thieves are believed to follow among themselves.
e.g. Horace Danby believes that the young lady, being a thief herself, would not trick him, but she does, proving there is no honour among thieves.
Set a thief to catch a thief
The idea that only a person with similar dishonest tendencies can understand and catch another dishonest person.
e.g. The young lady, who is also a thief, successfully deceives Horace Danby because she understands his mindset and methods.
Hay fever
A disorder affecting the nose and throat, caused by allergy to pollen or dust.
e.g. Horace Danby suffers from hay fever in summer, which causes him to sneeze and gives him away when the young lady hears him.
Burglar alarm
A device that detects unauthorized entry into a building and alerts the occupants or authorities.
e.g. Horace Danby cuts the wire of the burglar alarm at Shotover Grange to avoid detection while he opens the safe.
Safe
A secure lockable box or cabinet used for storing valuable items such as jewels, money, or important documents.
e.g. The safe at Shotover Grange contains jewels worth about fifteen thousand pounds, which Horace plans to steal.
Fingerprints
Unique patterns of ridges on the fingertips that can be used to identify a person, often left on surfaces touched.
e.g. Horace Danby removes his gloves to light the young lady's cigarette, leaving his fingerprints all over the room, which leads to his arrest.
Meticulous planner
A person who pays careful attention to every detail when making plans, leaving little to chance.
e.g. Horace Danby studies the house at Shotover Grange for two weeks, noting rooms, wiring, paths, and the servants' schedule.
Deception
The act of causing someone to believe something that is not true, often to gain an advantage.
e.g. The young lady deceives Horace Danby by pretending to be the lady of the house and asking him to open the safe for her.
Respectable citizen
A person who is considered honest, law-abiding, and of good character by society.
e.g. Everyone thought Horace Danby was a good, honest citizen because he was a successful locksmith and lived quietly with his housekeeper.
Prison library
A library within a prison where inmates can read and borrow books.
e.g. Horace Danby served his first and only sentence in a prison library fifteen years ago, which is where his love for rare books may have grown.
Agent
A person who acts on behalf of another to buy or sell goods, often discreetly.
e.g. Horace Danby secretly buys rare books through an agent to avoid drawing attention to his thefts.
Assistant librarian
A person who helps manage a library, often assisting with organizing books and helping patrons.
e.g. After his arrest, Horace Danby becomes the assistant librarian in the prison, reflecting his love for books.
How It Works
Horace Danby's annual robbery plan
  1. Step 1: Horace carefully plans each robbery a year in advance, studying the target house for two weeks.
  2. Step 2: He observes the house's rooms, electric wiring, paths, and garden to understand the layout.
  3. Step 3: He waits for the servants to leave, ensuring the house is empty.
  4. Step 4: He wears gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints and uses a key from a hook to enter the kitchen.
  5. Step 5: He cuts the wire of the burglar alarm to prevent detection.
  6. Step 6: He opens the safe using his expertise with locks and safes.
  7. Step 7: He steals enough jewels to sell for at least five thousand pounds, which lasts him for twelve months.
  8. Step 8: He secretly buys rare books through an agent with the stolen money.
💡 Students often forget that Horace's plan includes cutting the burglar alarm wire and that he always wears gloves to avoid fingerprints — these details are crucial for understanding his downfall.
The young lady's deception of Horace Danby
  1. Step 1: The young lady hears Horace sneezing from the top of the house and comes down to confront him.
  2. Step 2: She pretends to be the lady of the house, calling the dog Sherry and straightening ornaments.
  3. Step 3: She engages Horace in conversation, appearing amused and friendly to gain his trust.
  4. Step 4: She claims she came back to get her jewels for a party but forgot the safe's combination.
  5. Step 5: She asks Horace to open the safe for her, promising to let him go if he does.
  6. Step 6: Horace, eager to please, removes his gloves to light her cigarette, leaving fingerprints.
  7. Step 7: She takes the jewels and lets Horace go, but later the police arrest him based on his fingerprints.
  8. Step 8: The real lady of the house, a gray-haired woman of sixty, denies knowing Horace, proving he was tricked.
💡 The key point students miss is that the young lady never actually touches the safe or leaves her own fingerprints — she uses Horace's greed and trust to frame him.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing the two sayings
✗ The story illustrates that you must set a thief to catch a thief.
→ The story primarily illustrates that there is no honour among thieves, as the young lady tricks Horace despite being a thief herself. The question at the start asks which saying the story illustrates, and the ending shows Horace getting angry when anyone talks about 'honour among thieves'.
✓ The story illustrates that there is no honour among thieves, as shown by the young lady deceiving Horace Danby.
⚠ Thinking Horace is a typical thief
✗ Horace Danby is a typical thief who steals for personal gain.
→ Horace is not a typical thief because he steals only once a year, for a specific reason (to buy rare books), and only from wealthy people. He is described as 'good and respectable — but not completely honest'.
✓ Horace Danby cannot be categorised as a typical thief because he steals only once a year, for a specific purpose (to buy rare books), and from those who have a lot of money, while otherwise living a respectable life.
⚠ Believing the young lady is the owner
✗ The young lady is the wife of the owner of Shotover Grange.
→ The young lady is actually a thief herself, pretending to be the lady of the house. The real wife is a gray-haired, sharp-tongued woman of sixty who later denies the story.
✓ The young lady is not the owner's wife; she is a clever thief who deceives Horace Danby into opening the safe for her.
⚠ Ignoring the role of fingerprints
✗ Horace was arrested because the young lady told the police.
→ Horace was arrested because his fingerprints were all over the room after he removed his gloves to light the young lady's cigarette. The police used the fingerprints as evidence.
✓ Horace was arrested because his fingerprints were found all over the room, as he had opened the safe without gloves after lighting the young lady's cigarette.
⚠ Misunderstanding Horace's hay fever
✗ Horace's hay fever made him sneeze, which caused him to fail in his robbery.
→ The hay fever did not cause him to fail; it only alerted the young lady to his presence. His failure was due to his trust in the young lady and his removal of gloves.
✓ Horace's hay fever caused him to sneeze, alerting the young lady to his presence, but his downfall was caused by his own carelessness in removing his gloves and trusting her.
Compare & Contrast
Nature as a thief
Horace Danby
The young lady
Horace is a meticulous planner who steals once a year for a specific purpose (rare books) and avoids violence, while the young lady is a cunning, opportunistic thief who deceives and frames another thief without hesitation.
Applicability to the story
Set a thief to catch a thief
Honour among thieves
The story disproves 'honour among thieves' because the young lady tricks Horace, but it partially supports 'set a thief to catch a thief' because the young lady, being a thief, successfully outwits Horace.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: This chapter typically appears in board exams as: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Short Answer question (2-3 marks), and 1 Long Answer question (5 marks) focusing on character analysis or moral themes.
Most asked: The irony of trust and deception · Character analysis of Horace Danby · The role of the young lady in tricking Horace · The significance of the two sayings at the beginning · Why Horace cannot be called a typical thief
Don't skip: Long answer questions on whether Horace Danby deserved his punishment or was unfairly treated; Questions on the theme of 'honour among thieves' and how the story illustrates it; Character sketch of Horace Danby and the young lady
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. Horace Danby is a respectable locksmith who steals once a year to buy rare books.
  2. He suffers from hay fever, which causes him to sneeze and alert the young lady.
  3. The young lady pretends to be the owner of Shotover Grange to trick Horace.
  4. Horace removes his gloves to light her cigarette, leaving his fingerprints everywhere.
  5. The real owner is a gray-haired woman of sixty who denies knowing Horace.
  6. Horace is arrested and becomes an assistant librarian in prison.
  7. The story illustrates that there is no honour among thieves.
  8. Horace is not a typical thief because he steals only from the rich and for a specific reason.
  9. The young lady is a clever thief who outwits Horace by gaining his trust.
  10. Horace's meticulous planning fails because he trusts the wrong person.
  11. The burglar alarm at the Grange is poorly built, making it easy to disable.
  12. Horace uses an agent to secretly buy rare books with stolen money.
  13. The dog Sherry is friendly and does not alert anyone because Horace calls it by name.
  14. The safe is hidden behind a poor painting, as described in a magazine article.
  15. Horace's first and only prison sentence was served in a prison library fifteen years ago.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. What is Horace Danby's profession, and what is his secret?

  • A. He is a librarian who steals books from the library
  • B. He is a lock-maker who robs safes to buy rare books ✓
  • C. He is a jeweller who steals diamonds for profit
  • D. He is a painter who forges valuable artwork

Answer: B — The text explicitly states Horace 'made locks and was successful enough at his business' but 'robbed a safe every year' to buy rare, expensive books he loved.

Q2. Why does Horace sneeze in the drawing room at Shotover Grange?

  • A. He has caught a cold from the servants
  • B. He is nervous about being caught stealing
  • C. The smell of flowers in the room triggers his hay fever ✓
  • D. He is reacting to the dust from the painting

Answer: C — The text states 'There was a great bowl of flowers on the table, and Horace felt his nose tickle' and later 'the smell of the flowers came to him again.'

Q3. How does the woman gain Horace's trust?

  • A. She threatens to call the police immediately
  • B. She acts amused rather than angry and offers to help him escape if he opens the safe ✓
  • C. She tells him she is also a thief and understands his situation
  • D. She promises him money if he opens the safe for her

Answer: B — The woman tells Horace she will let him go if he opens the safe for her, claiming she forgot the combination and needs jewels for a party, making him believe he is helping her instead of being tricked.

Q4. What critical error does Horace make while opening the safe?

  • A. He forgets to cut the burglar alarm wire
  • B. He uses too much force and damages the safe
  • C. He removes his gloves to hand the woman a cigarette lighter ✓
  • D. He leaves the safe door open when he steps outside

Answer: C — The text states 'no one believed him when he said that the wife of the owner of the house had asked him to open the safe for her' because 'His fingerprints, for he had opened the safe without gloves, were all over the room.'

Q5. Why is Horace arrested after leaving Shotover Grange?

  • A. The woman immediately calls the police and gives his description
  • B. The servants return and find him in the house
  • C. His fingerprints are found in the safe, and the real owner's wife denies his story about a young lady ✓
  • D. He is caught trying to sell the jewels to an underground buyer

Answer: C — The text explains 'By noon a policeman had arrested him for the jewel robbery at Shotover Grange' because 'His fingerprints, for he had opened the safe without gloves, were all over the room, and no one believed him when he said that the wife of the owner of the house had asked him to open the safe for her. The wife herself...said that the story was nonsense.'

Q6. What does the phrase 'honour among thieves' mean in the context of this story?

  • A. All thieves are dishonest and violent
  • B. Thieves should respect and trust each other because they share the same profession ✓
  • C. Horace and the woman are equally skilled at stealing
  • D. Theft is acceptable if done with good intentions

Answer: B — The phrase 'honour among thieves' suggests that even criminals have a code of loyalty, but the story disproves this by showing the woman betrays Horace despite being a thief herself.

Q7. Why does Horace keep his promise not to steal for two days after the woman lets him go?

  • A. He is afraid of being caught immediately
  • B. He genuinely believes the woman will help him escape and respects her ✓
  • C. He decides to give up stealing permanently
  • D. He is waiting for the right opportunity to steal again

Answer: B — The text states 'For two days he kept his promise to the kind young lady,' showing that Horace trusted her and honoured his agreement, believing she would reciprocate his loyalty.

Q8. Which statement best explains why the woman tricks Horace?

  • A. She is trying to protect society from criminals
  • B. She is a professional thief in the same profession who manipulates his trust to rob the house herself ✓
  • C. She is punishing him for attempting to steal from an innocent family
  • D. She wants to become Horace's partner in future robberies

Answer: B — The story reveals that the woman is also a thief using her profession to trick Horace into opening the safe; she then escapes while he is arrested for her crime.

Q9. What is ironic about Horace being arrested for the Shotover Grange robbery?

  • A. He is arrested for a robbery he did not complete himself ✓
  • B. He is arrested while trying to keep his promise not to steal
  • C. He is arrested by the woman who should have helped him
  • D. He is arrested despite being the most honest criminal

Answer: A — Horace is arrested for opening the safe for the woman, but he did not steal the jewels himself; the woman stole them and blamed him, leaving his fingerprints as evidence.

Q10. What does Horace's current position as an assistant librarian in prison suggest about his character?

  • A. He has completely reformed and no longer loves books
  • B. He remains connected to his true passion for books even in prison ✓
  • C. He is planning to steal from the prison library
  • D. He regrets every theft he has committed and wants to become honest

Answer: B — Even in prison, Horace works as an assistant librarian, showing that his deep love for books and reading is an essential part of his identity that imprisonment cannot change.

Flashcards

What does Horace Danby steal and why?

He robs safes to buy rare, expensive books which he loves and cannot afford otherwise.

Why does Horace mention his hay fever to the woman?

He sneezes loudly while working, and she hears him; he reflexively admits the truth when she asks if it is a cold or hay fever.

Who is the woman in the red dress at Shotover Grange?

She is a professional thief using the same profession as Horace, posing as the owner's wife to trick him into opening the safe.

What does the woman ask Horace to do in exchange for letting him go?

She asks him to open the safe so she can retrieve jewels she claims to need for a party, though she is actually robbing the house.

Why does Horace get arrested after leaving Shotover Grange?

His fingerprints are found all over the safe because he opened it without gloves, and the real owner's wife denies his story about the young lady.

What critical mistake does Horace make while opening the safe?

He removes his gloves to hand the woman his cigarette lighter, leaving fingerprints all over the safe and room.

What is the significance of the phrase 'honour among thieves' in this story?

The story proves this saying false by showing that the woman, also a thief, betrays Horace and exploits his trust instead of showing professional loyalty.

How does the woman manipulate Horace into helping her?

She sympathises with his hay fever, acts amused rather than angry, and makes him believe she will help him escape if he opens the safe for her.

What does Horace's current job in prison reflect about his character?

As a librarian's assistant, he remains connected to books he loves, showing that his core passion for knowledge has not changed despite his punishment.

Why does Horace keep his promise to the woman for two days?

He believes she will help him escape and genuinely trusted her, so he avoided stealing again to honour their agreement.

Important Board Questions

Why does Horace decide to open the safe for the woman? What does this decision reveal about his character? (2 marks) [2 marks]

He believes opening the safe will allow him to escape (she promises to let him go). This shows he is desperate, trusting, and values his freedom over completing his robbery — he chooses hope over survival.

How does the woman manipulate Horace into helping her? Explain with two examples from the text. (3 marks) [3 marks]

She identifies his hay fever and sympathises (gains emotional connection), acts amused rather than angry (removes fear), and promises to help him escape if he opens the safe (creates false sense of mutual benefit). Show how each tactic exploits his desperation and shared profession.

Does the story support or refute the saying 'honour among thieves'? Analyse Horace's experience with the woman to answer this question. What does this reveal about trust between criminals? (5 marks) [5 marks]

The story REFUTES the saying — the woman, also a thief, completely betrays Horace despite their shared profession. Analyse: How Horace keeps his 2-day promise (he believes in honour), How the woman breaks her implied promise (she has no honour), How desperation blinds people to betrayal, Why trust is weaponised in criminal relationships. Conclude: Trust is dangerous when built on false assumptions of loyalty.

Assertion-Reason Questions for A Question of Trust

Q1. Assertion (A):

Horace Danby is arrested for the jewel robbery at Shotover Grange because his fingerprints are found all over the room.

Reason (R):

Horace removed his gloves when opening the safe for the young woman in red, leaving fingerprints as evidence of his crime.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion. Horace's fingerprints are indeed the evidence that leads to his arrest, and this happens specifically because he took off his gloves to help the young woman. This is a direct cause-and-effect relationship where the reason fully explains why the assertion is true.

Q2. Assertion (A):

The young woman who tricks Horace is the actual wife of the house owner.

Reason (R):

She is described as young, pretty, and dressed in red, and she knows the combination to the safe.

Answer: D — A is false but R is true — Both statements are false. The young woman is NOT the actual wife—the real wife is described as 'a gray-haired, sharp-tongued woman of sixty' who was in London at the time. The young woman was an accomplice/criminal who pretended to be the wife. The reason is also false because the young woman didn't know the combination (she asked Horace to open it), and her appearance doesn't prove her identity.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Horace's hay fever is a disadvantage that helps the young woman discover him in the house.

Reason (R):

His sneezing alerts her to his presence and leads to their fateful conversation.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true and the reason correctly explains the assertion. Horace's sneezing from the flower smell is what causes the young woman to come downstairs and discover him, which is how their conversation begins. This sneezing directly leads to the chain of events that results in his arrest, making it a critical disadvantage.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for A Question of Trust

Case Study:

A home security consultant is reviewing the layout and vulnerabilities of several high-value residences for a report. She examines house plans, notes the placement of safes, documents security systems, and studies the daily routines of residents. She even reviews magazine articles that feature certain homes and describe their valuable collections. A criminal underworld contact learns about a house in the countryside where valuable jewels are kept in a safe hidden behind a painting. The criminal plans a burglary, spends two weeks surveying the property, notes when servants leave, identifies the spare key, and plans his entry. On the day of the planned robbery, he encounters the homeowner's daughter who has unexpectedly returned home. A conversation ensues where she realizes he is a burglar but seems amused rather than alarmed.

Q1. What is the primary similarity between the security consultant's actions and Horace Danby's initial planning?

  • A. Both examine house layouts and identify security vulnerabilities ✓
  • B. Both are trying to prevent criminal activity in homes
  • C. Both work for law enforcement agencies
  • D. Both plan to steal jewels from high-value residences

Answer: A

Q2. How does the information from magazine articles create a security risk in this scenario?

  • A. It prevents homeowners from knowing about their own homes
  • B. It provides detailed information about valuable items and safe locations that criminals can use ✓
  • C. It helps security consultants improve home safety measures
  • D. It allows magazine writers to become criminals

Answer: B

Q3. What does the unexpected return of the homeowner's daughter represent in relation to crime planning?

  • A. A factor that cannot always be predicted despite careful planning ✓
  • B. Evidence that all burglary attempts will fail
  • C. Proof that surveillance is ineffective
  • D. A reason why burglars should never target wealthy homes

Answer: A

Q4. Based on this scenario, what is the most critical lesson about criminal planning?

  • A. Criminals should avoid robbing houses with valuable items
  • B. Even careful planning cannot account for all variables, and unexpected encounters can lead to compromise or arrest ✓
  • C. Magazine articles should never feature valuable homes
  • D. Security consultants are always criminals in disguise

Answer: B

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for A Question of Trust

Real CBSE board exam questions from past papers — free to attempt.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/2/1 · 3 marks

Horace Danky's final arrest was a blessing in disguise. Explain.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/1/1 · 3 marks

Why does Horace Danby consider himself an honest man despite being a thief? How does this self-perception affect his decision in the story?

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/3/1 · 3 marks

What was the passion of Horace Danby and how did he satisfy it?

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 6 marks

Horace ends up in prison only to regret that a man should not trust anyone blindly without finding out the truth. Do you think his own foolishness was responsible for his arrest? Give a reasoned answer.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/2 · 6 marks

How did the lady in red manage to outsmart and outmaneuver the other thief, Horace Danby, by robbing the safe without leaving a single fingerprint?

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/3 · 6 marks

What plan did Horace Danby make to rob the house at Shotover Grange?

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/3/1 · 3 marks

The unexpected encounter with the voice in the doorway affects Horace's burglary attempt. Elaborate.

CBSE 2024 · Set 31/5/1 · 3 marks

Discuss the moral dilemma faced by Chubukov and how he resolves it. (40-50 words)

CBSE 2024 · Set 31/5/2 · 3 marks

Trust is a vital component in any relationship. How does this statement apply in the context of Horace Danby's character?

CBSE 2024 · Set 31/5/3 · 3 marks

How does the story establish the importance of mutual trust and honesty in relationships? (40-50 words)

CBSE 2023 · Set 31/5/3 · 6 marks

Forgiveness is the foundation of a cordial relationship. Do you agree? Support your answer with an example from the story 'A Question of Trust'.

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