Summary

Horace Danby was a seemingly honest citizen who secretly planned and executed a robbery each
year to fund his love for books. This time, he targeted Shotover Grange and studied the house
meticulously. When the house was empty, he broke in and while working on the safe. he was
interrupted by a young woman in red claiming to be the lady of the house. Horace got intimidated
upon seeing the lady as she had caught him in the act of robbing the safe . Her appearance and
mannerisms perfectly matched the elegance of the house.. Her confidence and ease while
performing mundane acts such as lighting a cigarette, petting the dog, and arranging the ornaments
by the fireplace further strengthened Horace's belief that she was the rightful owner of the house
and its belongings., which made Horace nervous because he is caught off guard and realizes that he
is at her mercy. She subtly played on horace’s fear of getting caught and going to prison by indirectly
offering him a way out (to open the safe). She mentioned needing the jewels for the party that night
and had somehow forgotten the passcode Horace eager to please her to avoid consequences fell for
the ruse and opened the safe and handed her the jewels without questioning her intentions..He was
later arrested when his fingerprints were found at the scene, and the real lady of the house denied
ever asking him to open the safe. Horace realized he had been outsmarted by a fellow thief

Q. LADY IN THE RED CHARACTERIZATION

The lady in red approaches Horace with a calm and composed demeanour, making her appear
trustworthy and in control. She also uses her observational skills to notice Horace's hay fever and
starts a conversation, making her approach seem more natural and less suspicious. Her quick
thinking and convincing story manipulate Horace into opening the safe for her. Her ability to speak
confidently and convincingly helps her gain Horace's trust and cooperation. .Her friendly and
approachable manner disarms Horace, making him more likely to believe her story and comply with
her requests. These qualities combined enable her to deceive Horace and successfully carry out her
plan.

Irony in the story?

Horace Danby, a respectable man with a secret passion for rare books, funds his hobby by
committing an annual robbery. He meticulously plans his heists and steals enough to last for a year.
During one such robbery at Shotover Grange, he encounters a young woman who pretends to be the
lady of the h

ouse She cleverly concocted a story about needing the jewels for a party and forgetting the password
for the safe. Horace, eager to please her, falls for the ruse opens the safe and gives her the jewels.
He is later arrested when his fingerprints are found at the scene, and the real lady of the house
denies ever asking him to open the safe.

The irony in "A Question of Trust" lies in the fact that Horace Danby, who prides himself on being a
meticulous and successful burglar, is outsmarted by a woman who turns out to be a thief herself.
Q .Horace Danby mistake during the heist?

Horace Danby's several mistakes culminated in his downfall during the heist at Shotover Grange.

He was overconfident in his abilities and meticulous planning. He believed that his careful study of
the house and its security measures would ensure a successful heist, which led him to let his guard
down.

Furthermore, Horace did not anticipate the possibility of encountering someone in the house. He
assumed that the house would be empty because the servants had gone to the movies, but he did
not consider the chance of someone returning unexpectedly.

When he encountered the young woman who claimed to be a member of the family, Horace trusted
her without verifying her identity. He was easily deceived by her appearance and demeanor, which
led him to open the safe for her.

Additionally In his eagerness to please the young woman, Horace removed his gloves to light a
cigarette for her and left his fingerprints all over the room. This mistake made it easy for the police to
identify and arrest him later.

These mistakes ultimately led to Horace's downfall and arrest, highlighting the importance of being
cautious and not underestimating potential risks

Q .what was horaces reaction on seeing the lady?

Horace is afraid of the lady because she catches him in the act of robbing the safe and confronts him.
She appears confident and in control of the situation, which makes Horace nervous. He realizes that
she has the power to call the police and have him arrested. Additionally, she is clever and
manipulative, which makes Horace unsure of how to handle the situation. Her calm demeanor and
firm voice add to his fear, as he knows that she is not easily intimidated. Ultimately, Horace is afraid
because he is caught off guard and realizes that he is at her mercy.

why does the narrator say that horace was good and respectable - but not completly honest

The narrator describes Horace Danby as good and respectable but not completely honest to highlight
the contrast between his outward appearance and his secret life. While Horace is seen as a
respectable citizen who runs a successful business and lives a seemingly normal life, he has a hidden
side where he engages in criminal activities to support his love for rare books. This duality in his
character creates intrigue and sets the stage for the story's exploration of trust and deception. It
emphasizes that people are not always what they seem and that even those who appear respectable
can have hidden flaws.

Q .Why is Horace good and respectable but not completely honest (Own perspective)
ANS - Horace a fifty year old unmarried man is seen as a respectable citizen who runs a successful
business and lives a seemingly normal life, however, he has a hidden side where he engages in
criminal activities to support his love for rare books. Each year, he would carefully plan a robbery,
steal enough to last for twelve months, and buy the books he desired through an agent .Thus he is a
good and respectable person but not completely honest this statement highlights the duality in his
character between his outward appearance and his hidden dishonesty.

How Horace planned the heist and entered the house?

Horace Danby meticulously planned his heist at Shotover Grange. For two weeks, he studied the
house, noting its rooms, electric wiring, paths, and garden. He observed the movements of the
servants and waited for the perfect opportunity when the house would be empty.

On the day of the robbery, Horace saw the two servants leave for the movies. Confident that the
house was empty, he took the key to the kitchen door, which he had seen the housekeeper hang on a
hook outside. He put on a pair of gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints and entered the house.

Inside, he encountered a small dog named Sherry, who greeted him friendly. Horace called the dog
by its name to keep it quiet and proceeded to the drawing room, where the safe was hidden behind
a painting. He carefully arranged his tools and began his work, confident that he had four hours
before the servants returned.

Horace's meticulous planning and attention to detail gave him confidence in his ability to successfully
complete the heist. However, his encounter with the young woman who tricked him ultimately led to
his downfall.