A Question of Trust — AP Board Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet)
"He was a good thief. He never stole anything from anyone who was poor."
1. About the Chapter
'A Question of Trust' is a witty, ironic short story by Victor Canning about Horace Danby, a 'gentleman thief' who prides himself on being HONEST — except for one robbery a year. His carefully planned world is turned upside down when he meets a MYSTERIOUS WOMAN at a country house who claims to be the owner. The story is a masterclass in IRONY and DECEPTION. This chapter is part of the AP Board (BSEAP) Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet (Supplementary Reader) textbook under the new 2025-26 NCERT-aligned syllabus.
Why This Chapter Matters for AP Board Students
- BRILLIANT ironic twist — one of the best in the syllabus
- Explores the MORAL GREY areas of crime
- Memorable characters and dialogue
- Teaches: appearances can be VERY deceiving
- Frequently tested for IRONY and CHARACTER ANALYSIS
2. About the Author
Victor Canning (1911-1986)
- British novelist and short story writer
- Wrote over 50 books — thrillers, mysteries, adventure
- Known for his CLEVER PLOTS and TWIST ENDINGS
- 'A Question of Trust' is one of his most popular stories in India
- Style: WIT, IRONY, SURPRISE ENDINGS
3. Story Setting
- Location: Country houses in England (Shattered Grange, Shotover Grange)
- Time: Mid-20th century
- Atmosphere: Quiet, elegant, deceptive — nothing is as it seems
4. Detailed Summary
Part 1: Horace Danby — The Gentleman Thief
Horace Danby is a GENTLEMAN THIEF. He is:
- 50 years old, unmarried
- A locksmith by profession
- HONEST and RESPECTABLE in every OTHER way
- BUT — he robs ONE country house every year
Part 2: Why He Steals
Horace steals to BUY BOOKS. He loves rare and expensive books. His annual robbery funds his BOOK COLLECTION.
He is NOT greedy — he steals only ENOUGH for his books.
Part 3: The Plan
Horace plans to rob Shotover Grange — a country house. He has studied:
- The floor plan
- The servants' schedules
- The safe's location
- The alarm system
He has the RIGHT TOOLS for everything — except the SHARP GLASS CUTTER he needs.
Part 4: The Meeting
At Shotover Grange, Horace meets a YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE WOMAN. She is standing in the house, looking at him.
Horace PANICS. He says: 'I've come to... clean the central heating.'
The woman LAUGHS. She says: 'Don't lie. You've come to rob the house.'
Part 5: The Woman's Story
The woman says she is the OWNER's wife. She has LOST her key to the safe. She asks Horace to OPEN the safe for her.
Naively, Horace BELIEVES her.
He opens the safe. Inside is jewellery worth thousands.
Part 6: The Betrayal
The woman takes the jewellery and LEAVES. Horace stays behind.
But the REAL owner arrives! The police come.
Horace REALISES: The woman was NOT the owner's wife. She was ANOTHER THIEF — who used HIM to open the safe.
Part 7: The Arrest
Horace Danby is ARRESTED. He goes to PRISON.
Worst of all: the woman got away with ALL the jewellery.
Part 8: The Irony
In prison, Horace realises the TRUTH:
- HE was tricked by a woman
- The woman was a THIEF just like him
- He had TRUSTED her — and she BETRAYED him
- He was a 'THIEF FOOLED BY A THIEF'
The woman has been ARRESTED too — but for a DIFFERENT crime. She is in THE SAME PRISON. They never meet.
The story ends with Horace thinking: 'Who do you trust when you are a thief yourself?'
5. Character Analysis
Horace Danby
- A 'GENTLEMAN THIEF' — robs only to buy books
- 50 years old, unmarried
- A RESPECTED locksmith in his town
- HONEST in every OTHER aspect of life
- Methodical and careful — studies houses before robbing them
- NAIVE — trusts the woman completely
- Fooled because he is NOT suspicious — he is a 'good' person
- Represents MORAL COMPLEXITY — a thief who is also honest
- AP Board Exam Tip: Horace's contradictory nature (honest thief) is the key to understanding
The Woman (The Real Thief)
- YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE, CHARMING
- QUICK-THINKING — instantly creates a story
- Uses Horace's NAIVETY against him
- Pretends to be the owner's wife
- Escapes with ALL the jewellery
- Is ARRESTED later — for a DIFFERENT crime
- Represents DECEPTION and CLEVERNESS
- AP Board Exam Tip: The woman's clever deception of an experienced thief is the story's central irony
The Real Owner of Shotover Grange
- An INNOCENT party in all this
- Discovers the attempted robbery
- Calls the police
The Police
- Arrest Horace at the scene
- Believe he was working alone
6. Key Themes
1. Trust and Deception
The CENTRAL theme. Horace TRUSTS the woman — and is BETRAYED. A thief's inability to trust ANYONE is his fatal weakness. The title asks: for a thief, who can you trust?
2. The Irony of Crime
A thief is FOOLED by another thief. The irony is COMPLETE:
- Horace expected to deceive others
- Instead, he was DECEIVED
- He who lives by the sword dies by the sword
3. Moral Ambiguity
Horace is a THIEF but also a GENTLEMAN. He steals only for BOOKS. He never hurts anyone. The story asks: is Horace a BAD person? Are there GRADES of criminality?
4. Appearance vs Reality
- Horace appears RESPECTABLE — but he is a thief
- The woman appears HELPLESS — but she is the real criminal
- No one is what they seem
5. Consequences
Horace's criminal lifestyle CATCHES UP with him. He has been lucky for years — but his luck RUNS OUT.
7. Literary Devices
Irony (Situational)
The story is BUILT on irony:
- A thief is TRICKED by another thief
- The 'professional' criminal is FOOLED by an amateur
- Horace planned to rob — but was ROBBED of his freedom
Dramatic Irony
- WE know the woman is lying
- Horace does NOT
- We watch him FALL into her trap
Title Significance
'A Question of Trust' — for a thief, trust is DANGEROUS. Horace trusted the wrong person. The title is a question and a warning.
Narrative Style
Third-person limited — we see MOSTLY through Horace's eyes. But we know ENOUGH to see his mistakes.
Contrast
- Horace (gentleman, respected, experienced) vs Woman (charming, quick, ruthless)
- Before (Horace was successful) vs After (Horace is caught)
- Planned crime (careful) vs Actual outcome (chaotic)
Foreshadowing
- Horace's luck seems TOO GOOD — something will go wrong
- His overconfidence is a WARNING
8. Important Quotes
'He was a good thief. He never stole anything from anyone who was poor.' Sets up Horace's MORAL CODE — he has his own rules.
'Don't lie. You've come to rob the house.' The woman's FIRST WORDS — showing she is in control from the start.
'I'm the owner's wife. I've forgotten the combination of the safe.' The LIE that Horace believes. It's so simple — and so effective.
'He was a thief — and she had tricked him.' Horace's REALISATION. The irony hits him fully.
'Who do you trust when you are a thief yourself?' The story's FINAL QUESTION — and its central theme.
9. AP Board Exam-Specific Tips
Common Exam Questions (AP Board Pattern)
- Why is Horace Danby called a 'gentleman thief'? (2 marks) — He only steals for books, never hurts anyone
- How did the woman trick Horace? (4 marks) — Pretended to be the owner's wife, asked him to open the safe
- What is ironic about the story? (4 marks) — A thief is fooled by another thief
- Character sketch of Horace Danby (4 marks) — Respectable locksmith, gentleman thief, naive
- Significance of the title 'A Question of Trust' (6 marks) — For a thief, trust is dangerous; who can you trust?
- Why did Horace trust the woman? (4 marks) — She was charming, confident, and knew about the house
10. Lessons and Values
- Honesty is the best policy — Horace's crime ultimately destroyed his life
- Appearances can be deceiving — trust your instincts, not just appearances
- One wrong choice can undo a lifetime of good
- If you live by deception, you may be deceived
- There are consequences for every action — even 'gentlemanly' crime has a price
11. Worked Examples (AP Board Pattern)
Example 1: Short Answer (2 marks)
Q: Why did Horace Danby rob only one house a year? A: Horace robbed one house a year to fund his PASSION for collecting rare and expensive books. He was not greedy — he stole only ENOUGH to buy the books he wanted, and he never stole from poor people.
Example 2: Character Sketch (4 marks)
Q: Write a character sketch of Horace Danby. A: Horace Danby is a 50-year-old, unmarried LOCKSMITH who leads a double life. To the world, he is a RESPECTABLE businessman. In secret, he is a 'GENTLEMAN THIEF' who robs one country house annually to fund his BOOK COLLECTION. He is METHODICAL — studying houses carefully before robbing them. He has a MORAL CODE — he never steals from the poor. But he is NAIVE — he trusts the woman at Shotover Grange completely and is easily tricked. His flaw is TRUSTING the wrong person. He represents the MORAL COMPLEXITY of human nature — a thief who is also a gentleman, a criminal who is also honest in every other way.
Example 3: Theme Analysis (6 marks)
Q: Discuss the significance of the title 'A Question of Trust'. A: The title 'A Question of Trust' is central to the story's theme. Horace Danby, a thief, must decide who to TRUST. He trusts the woman who claims to be the owner's wife — and pays dearly for it. For a CRIMINAL, trust is especially dangerous because they cannot verify anything through LEGAL channels. The title questions: CAN a thief ever truly trust anyone? And SHOULD anyone trust a thief? The story answers with a RESOUNDING NO. The woman (another thief) betrays Horace without hesitation. The story also asks the reader: who can YOU trust? Appearances are deceiving. The woman seemed trustworthy — but was a criminal. Horace seemed respectable — but was also a criminal. The story suggests that in a world of deception, TRUST IS A RISKY BUSINESS.
12. Conclusion
'A Question of Trust' is a BRILLIANTLY IRONIC story:
- A GENTLEMAN THIEF who only steals for books
- A CHARMING WOMAN who outwits him
- A TRAP that Horace walks into blindly
- An IRONY that is COMPLETE and DEVASTATING
- A question that lingers: who can you trust?
For AP Board Class 10 students:
- The IRONY is the story's greatest strength — understand it fully
- Horace is not evil — he is COMPLEX
- The woman is not just a villain — she is CLEVER
- In exams, focus on the IRONY and the THEME OF TRUST
'A Question of Trust' — when a thief trusts a thief, someone ends up in prison.
