CBSE Class 12 English Evans Tries an O Level Notes Set B

About The Author

Colin Dexter (29 September 1930-21 March 2017) was an English crime writer known for his Inspector Morse series of novels. These novels were also adapted as television series. Dexter received several crime writer association awards and was appointed an ‘Officer of the Order of the British Empire’ for his services in literature.

Summary

Evans was put in the Oxford prison at Carfax for his criminal records including the three jail breaks that he had successfully committed. Therefore, London police had put him in the most secure Oxford prison where jail breaks could not be attempted due to high security. Evans was also aware that it is almost impossible to break the jail this time and it involved a high degree of planning and many other people to help him this time. In the first week Evans requested the Governor that he was genuinely interested in learning German and attain academic qualification.

Though the Governor approves his request but with a lot of precautions. There was a hidden microphone hidden in his lock up where Evans took the classes, Governor wanted to be sure that Evans is not asking for help from his tutor. Evans wanted to appear for O-level German Examination to be held on June 8. The Governor called up the Secretary of the Examination Board. After having discussions about the examinee’s nature, the examination room, the security and the candidate being ‘incommunicado’, the Secretary agreed to send one of the parsons from St. Mary Mags to act as an invigilator. Evans’ tutor wished him luck even though he believed that he barely had a chance of getting through. To this, Evans replied “I may surprise everybody”. At 8:30 a.m., on the examination day, two officers, Mr. Jackson and Stephens, who was a new recruit visit Evans. They tease him calling “our little Einstein”. Jackson instructs Stephen to take everything that may injure Evans. He specially advised him to take away the razor after Evans had shaved himself. Jackson was not too fond of the red and white “bobble-hat” which Evans considered to be his lucky charm.

Evans was ‘Kleptomaniac’ and he got angry of things being taken away from him. Evans was told to freshen up as there was just half hour left for the exam. Evans started shaving himself. Stephens made the cell ready for the preparation of exam. He brings in two chairs and places it in front of the cell door. Evans is surprised that his cell is bugged. Jackson warned Evans that the Governor would listen to the conversation in the cell. Reverend S. McLeery, the invigilator comes to the prison premises and is headed to Evans’ cell who seems to be busy with his textbook of elementary German grammar. At 9:10 a.m., the Governor switched on the receiver. He believed in his heart of hearts that all these precautions were of no use because if Evans would have had to make mistake he could have easily done so from the Recreational Block. He did not want to take any chances. He believed that “Evans was as safe as houses” he asked the officers to search McLeery. McLeery’s suitcase was searched. There was a small semi-inflated rubber ring but they were politely informed that McLeery was suffering from piles and that rubber ring helped him to sit in a particular position for a long time. The invigilator was allowed to go in the cell when the officers were satisfied. McLeery gave necessary instructions to the candidate regarding writing down the paper’s name, 021-1, index number 313 and centre number 271. Till now, Stephens was inside the cell. Evans objected so the Governor asked Jackson to call him back.

The examination started at 9:25 a.m. At 9:40 a.m. the Assistant Secretary for Modern Languages informed the Governor about a correction slip and the necessity of informing the candidate about it. The Governor instructed the necessary precautions and connected the Assistant Secretary’s call to Mr. Jackson in the wing. Evans was told about the corrections on page three line fifteen by the invigilator. At 10:50 a.m. Evans requested for a blanket to be put around his shoulders. He was given the blanket as Stephens thought some of the cells were very cold. Three minutes before the exam got over Stephens was informed by Jackson that the Governor wanted him to accompany McLeery personally to the main gate. Stephens noticed that the invigilator appeared to be thinner than before and had a more prominent Scottish accent. Stephens thought of having one last look at Evans. He was in for a surprise. Stephens saw a man in Evans’ chair with the blanket slipping from his shoulders. His cropped hair were filled with blood. Stephens and Jackson thought it was McLeery hit by Evans and Evans had escaped. The wounded man in the cell told the prison authorities not to worry about him and draws the attention of the Governor to the photocopied sheet that had been superimposed over the last page of the question paper; instructions were written in German which advised Evans to strictly follow the plan and not to hit the parson too hard. It was also written that three minutes before the exam are very crucial. He was also advised not to overdo the Scottish accent while going out of the prison.

Everybody thought that the wounded man was McLeery. The police help was sought and when Detective Superintendent Carter approached McLerry, he told him that he knew where Evans went and directed him to lead him towards Elsfield Way. The Governor, out of sheer bewilderment told Superintendent to take McLeery wherever he wished to go as he was the only clue they had. The Governor called the two officers as ‘morons’ and said he did not make any call three minutes before the exam at 11:22 a.m. since at that time he was trying to get in touch with the Examination Board on phone but in vain. Jackson was taken to task because of his negligence. He had not searched the cell thoroughly the previous evening. This resulted in Evans concealing the ‘clerical paraphernalia’. Then the Governor looked at the photocopied slip at Newbury. He asked his officers to go and meet Chief Inspector Bell at St. Aldates Police Station. The Governor thought about Evans and appreciated his ingenuity. He considered leaving the question paper behind a mistake, as he thought this negligent act on Evans’ part would lead them to ‘Mr. clever-clever Evans’. What the Governor could not sense was that all this was part of the master plan. Meanwhile, Superintendent Carter called him and told him that McLeery headed them towards Elsfield Way but they have missed Evans. The Governor asked them to go to Newbury and gave them his reasons for thinking so. On being asked about McLeery, Carter told him that he was left at Radcliffe hospital.

The Governor rings up at Radcliffe but surprisingly McLeery appears to have escaped. This makes the Governor rush to McLeery’s residence at Broad Street and found the parson bound and gagged. He was there since 8:15 a.m. Finally, this made the prison authorities to comprehend that it was Evans impersonating as McLeery and the authorities have helped him to escape unknowingly. Evans was a free man now who escaped from the prison the fourth time. He treated himself with fish and chips. He was not happy that he had to cut his long hair but then he felt fortunate that Jackson did not ask him to take out his bobble hat. When he reached hotel he found a different receptionist there. He gave few necessary instructions to the receptionist and went to his room. On his way to the room, he was thinking about the way he executed the escape plan and appreciated the duplicate McLeery’s plan of wearing double minister’s dress. Deep engrossed in these thoughts he reached his room and is jolted by the presence of the Governor who paved his way to the hotel room based on the instructions given in the photocopied page. Governor told Evans that his game was over. Evans was visibly shaken. Evans understood that the correction slip gave him in.

After a bit of explaining about index number 313 and centre number 271 the Governor told him that he found himself in the hotel room. Evans explained further about pig’s blood in the tube and their efforts to check it from clotting. The Governor secretly admires their geniuneness. On asking how he managed to plan all this from the prison. Evans replied “I have get a lot of friends though”. He further revealed that the German teacher was a lot of help. Eventually, Evans was brought out of his room, he winked at the receptionist, was handcuffed and was put at the backseat of the prison van. The Governor said they would meet soon but he did not know that he was bidding farewell.

The moment they could not see the Governor, one of the prison officers opened the handcuffs for Evans. He was Evans’ friend disguised as a prison officer. Even the driver was his friend who was then instructed to drive towards Newbury. Therefore, Evans could escape this time as well.