GSEB Class 10 English Solutions Chapter 3 The Midnight Visitor

Read And Find Out (Text Book Page No. 14)

Question 1. How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
Answer: Ausable differs from other undercover agents in several ways. He occupies a small room within the dusty hallway of a dark French hotel. This room was located on the sixth, and highest, floor, hardly a suitable place for an exciting escapade. He was very overweight. Despite staying in Paris for more than two decades, he struggled with French and German and spoke with an American tone. Rather than receiving confidential messages through attractive women, he merely got a normal phone call scheduling a meeting. Because of these things, he was unlike the typical idea of an undercover operative. He handled Max by creating some tales and persuading Max to follow them, which helped him remove Max for good.
In simple words: Ausable was not like other secret agents because he was fat, lived in a small, dull hotel room, spoke with an American accent even after years in Paris, and received boring calls instead of exciting secret messages. He got rid of Max by making up clever stories.

Exam Tip: When describing a character, focus on both physical traits and personality or actions that make them unique.

Question 2. Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day?
Answer: Fowler works as a writer, and he had arrived to see Ausable. His very first true excitement of the day happened when he noticed a man in Ausable's room aiming a gun at Ausable and him.
In simple words: Fowler is a writer who met Ausable. His first exciting moment that day was seeing a man in Ausable's room with a gun, pointing it at both of them.

Exam Tip: Identify key characters and their initial reactions to significant events in the plot.

Read And Find Out (Text Book Page No. 15)

Question 1. How has Max got in?
Answer: Max entered the room by using a passkey, also known as a master key.
In simple words: Max used a special key to get into the room.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to small details in the story, as they often reveal important plot points or character actions.

Question 2. How does Ausable say he got in?
Answer: Ausable stated that he believed Max had entered the room via the balcony. He mentioned this was the second instance that month someone had gained entry to his room in this manner.
In simple words: Ausable claimed Max came in through the balcony. He even said this was the second time that month someone had used the balcony to get into his room.

Exam Tip: Notice how Ausable quickly invents details to make his lies seem more believable and establish a pattern.

Think About It

Question 1. 'Ausable did not fit any description secret agent Fowler had ever read.' What do secret agents in books and films look like, in your opinion? Discuss in groups or in class some stories or movies featuring spies, detectives and secret agents, and compare their appearance with that of Ausable in this story. (You may mention characters from fiction in languages other than English. In English fiction you may have come across Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, or Miss Marple. Have you watched any movies featuring James Bond ?)
Answer: Fictional secret agents are often shown as perfect men, described as 'tall, dark, and handsome'. They are typically muscular and have attractive women with them. They often smoke a pipe (similar to Sherlock Holmes) or a cigar and perform dangerous feats (like James Bond). Films featuring James Bond display advanced gadgets that help the detective combat bad guys. Still, there are a few instances where secret agents do not look this way. For example, a character called Feluda was made by Satyajit Ray, the well-known Bengali moviemaker. Feluda was a tall, strong person who depended on his excellent thinking skills and sharp observational talent.
In simple words: Usually, secret agents in books and movies are tall, handsome, fit men with beautiful women and cool gadgets, doing dangerous stunts like James Bond. But sometimes, they are different, like Feluda, who was tall and athletic but relied on his smart brain and keen eye.

Exam Tip: When discussing literary characters, draw comparisons to well-known figures to illustrate your points and highlight contrasts effectively.

Question 2. How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room? Look back at his detailed description of it. What makes it a convincing story?
Answer: Ausable gives a thorough account of how his office belonged to a larger apartment and how the room nearby had a direct link to a balcony. His claim that someone else had previously forced entry into his office via that same balcony made the story believable. Ausable's talent for thinking fast and staying composed during a moment of alarm makes his tale persuasive.
In simple words: Ausable described his office as part of a bigger apartment with a balcony link from the next room. He also claimed someone else had used it before, making his story sound real. His quick and calm thinking in a scary situation made it convincing.

Exam Tip: Note how fictional details become more credible when combined with a past "incident" to establish a false pattern.

Question 3. Looking back at the story, when do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max? Do you think he had worked out his plan in detail right from the beginning, or did he make up a plan taking advantage of events as they happened?
Answer: No, I do not believe he created his plan with every detail from the start. Instead, he utilized circumstances as they occurred. Ausable invented a tale about the balcony just outside the room, and when someone knocked, he announced it was the police. These actions made Max feel hopeless. He grew anxious and, without checking outside, leapt from the window to his end.
In simple words: Ausable didn't plan everything from the start. He just used things as they happened. He made up the balcony story and then said the knock was the police, which made Max desperate and jump out the window to his death.

Exam Tip: The best deceptions often rely on improvisation and quick thinking, adapting to unexpected events rather than sticking to a rigid plan.

Talk About It

Question 1. In this story, Ausable shows great 'presence of mind', or the ability to think quickly and act calmly and wisely, in a situation of danger and surprise. Give examples from your own experience, or narrate a story, which shows someone's presence of mind.
Answer: This situation reminds us of the play 'If I Were You'. Gerrard was taken captive by a criminal. Nonetheless, Gerrard handled the criminal like a visitor and ensnared him through his trust. He succeeded in persuading the criminal to flee, telling him the police were after him. He instructed the criminal to escape through what he called the exit door, which turned out to be a closet. The criminal went out through that door and found himself caught inside the cupboard.
In simple words: This is like the play 'If I Were You', where Gerrard tricked a criminal. Gerrard acted calmly, made the criminal believe the police were coming, and told him to run through a 'door' that was actually a cupboard, trapping him.

Exam Tip: When asked for examples of presence of mind, recall stories where quick, smart thinking helped overcome danger or surprise.

Question 2. Discuss what you would do in the situations described below. Remember that presence of mind comes out of a state of mental preparedness. If you have thought about possible problems or dangers, and about how to act in such situations, you have a better chance of dealing with such situations if they do arise.
(1) A small fire starts in your kitchen.
(2) A child starts to choke on a piece of food.
(3) An electrical appliance starts to hiss and gives out sparks.
(4) A bicycle knocks down a pedestrian.
(5) It rains continuously for more than twenty-four hours.
(6) A member of your family does not return home at the usual or expected time.
You may suggest other such situations.
Answer:
1. If a blanket is handy, it should be placed over the fire to block off the air. If the fire isn't caused by an electrical issue, water can be used. However, if it's a short circuit, the main power switch in the kitchen must be turned off right away before attempting any other actions.
2. The child's back needs to be gently patted until the lodged food piece comes out. Nevertheless, if choking persists, the child ought to be quickly taken to the hospital.
3. Power to the device should be cut off right away. If it is connected to an outlet, the plug must be pulled out. Afterwards, the appliance can be fixed by a qualified expert.
4. Immediate first aid must be given to the pedestrian. Assistance from others can also be requested, if needed. Based on how bad the injury is, the injured individual might need to be moved to a hospital.
5. A heavy rainstorm might cause flooding. Therefore, all required steps to protect different belongings should be taken, in addition to telling the relevant officials to act preventively.
6. If a family member does not come back home at their normal or anticipated time, inquiries should be made at the place they were expected to go. If they were with friends, those friends or their families should be called on their cell phones. If these searches yield no results, then, as a final option, the local police can be notified.
In simple words: For a small kitchen fire, smother it with a blanket or use water if not electrical; if electrical, turn off the main switch. For choking, pat the back; if it continues, go to the hospital. For sparking appliances, unplug and then get it repaired. For a pedestrian hit by a bicycle, give first aid and call for help; serious injuries need a hospital. For continuous rain, prepare for floods and inform authorities. If a family member is late, check where they were expected; if no luck, contact friends, and then the police.

Exam Tip: For scenario-based questions, list clear, actionable steps, showing a logical progression from immediate response to seeking professional help if necessary.

The Midnight Visitor Summary In English

The Midnight Visitor Summary:

Fowler is amazed to encounter a secret agent named Ausable, who is excessively overweight for such a role. Ausable informs him that he was expecting a crucial document for which numerous people had risked their lives. Upon arriving at Ausable's room, Fowler becomes frightened to find a man already inside. This man, Max, is tall and slender, holding an automatic pistol. Max had gained entry using a key, intending to seize the report about a new missile.

Ausable, realizing the peril, concocted a tale about a fictional balcony, which Max accepted as real. Ausable griped that someone had entered his room a second time because of this balcony. Later, a knock came at the door. Ausable once more tricked Max by claiming it was the police, who wished to enter and safeguard him. Max desired to escape the police and leaped to his demise from that imaginary balcony.