Class 10 English: Footprints Without Feet Chapter 3 – The Midnight Visitor

 First Introduction

The Midnight Visitor is an exciting and suspenseful story written by Robert Arthur. It tells us about a secret agent named Ausable, who looks ordinary but is very intelligent. He saves himself from danger by using his sharp mind. The story teaches that intelligence is stronger than physical power.

 Short Summary

Ausable was a secret agent. Fowler came to meet him. He was surprised because Ausable looked simple and fat. Suddenly Max entered with a gun. Ausable stayed calm and told lies about police and a balcony. Max believed him, jumped from the window, and fell down.

Full Summary

The tale of a secret agent. called Ausable, a small author, about. Fowler wanted to meet a real spy because he had read many spy stories. He thought spies were smart, active, handsome, and always in danger. He imagined guns, fast cars, secret papers, and brave fights, so he felt very happy when he got a chance to meet Ausable.

Ausable calmly faces Max in a hotel room as Max jumps out of the window, fooled by Ausable’s clever plan.

But when Fowler met Ausable, he felt surprised and disappointed because Ausable did not look like a secret agent at all. He was very fat, slow in movement, and had an ordinary face, and he spoke in an American voice, though he lived in Paris, so Fowler thought he looked more like a teacher or office worker than a brave spy from exciting stories.

Ausable took Fowler to his room in a small hotel in France, and they had to climb many stairs because the lift was not working, which made Fowler even more He was disappointed as he believed that the life of a spy ought to be filled with action, danger, and adventure rather than such plain and dull things.

When they reached the room and opened the door, Fowler suddenly saw a man standing inside with a pistol in his hand, and this unexpected sight made him frightened at once because the man looked dangerous, sharp, and confident, exactly like the kind of criminal or spy he had imagined in books.

The man’s name was Max, and he had entered the room secretly because he wanted to steal an important report that Ausable was going to receive that night, a report containing secret information about missiles and national safety.

Max pointed the gun at Ausable and ordered him not to move, while Fowler stood in fear and thought something terrible was going to happen, but Ausable remained calm and showed no fear, which was the first sign of his great intelligence and self-control.

Instead of shouting or fighting, Ausable spoke angrily and said that this was the second time someone had entered his room through the balcony window, and he complained that the hotel management had still not repaired the problem. Fowler was confused because he had not seen any balcony outside the window.

In truth, there was no balcony there. Ausable told a clever lie so Max would believe there was a balcony outside the window. Max trusted the story because he had no reason to doubt it and because Ausable spoke with great confidence.

just then, there was a knock at the door, and Ausable calmly said that it must be the police whom he had asked to come for protection because he was expecting an important report that night. Hearing this, Max became nervous and afraid of being caught with a gun.

To save himself, Max quickly decided to hide outside on the balcony until the police went away, so he moved toward the window, opened it, and jumped out without thinking carefully.

But there was no balcony outside the sixth-floor window. There was only empty space below, and Max fell down. In this way, Ausable defeated him completely without touching him or using any weapon.

When the door finally opened, Fowler expected to see policemen, but instead he saw only Henry, a waiter, who had come with drinks. Then Fowler understood that Ausable had spoken two lies—one about the balcony and the other about the police—and by these lies he had saved both their lives.

Fowler had believed that secret agents won by fighting, guns, and physical strength, but now he learned that a true secret agent may win by intelligence, confidence, patience, and quick thinking in moments of danger.

The story teaches us that outer appearance can be false because a person may look ordinary yet possess great talent and courage. Ausable looked fat and lazy, but he was clever, fearless, and wise, while Max had a gun yet was defeated by his own fear and Ausable’s sharp mind.

Thus, Ausable proved that a calm brain and smart thinking are stronger than force, and this lesson makes the story interesting, surprising, and memorable.

Easy Explanation

This story tells us that real heroes do not always look strong or smart. Ausable looked ordinary, but he was very clever. He remained calm in danger and used his mind to escape. Max had a gun, but he lost because he believed Ausable’s lies.

Important Characters

1. Ausable

A secret agent who is calm, clever, and intelligent. He saves himself by quick thinking.

2. Fowler

A writer wants to meet a real spy. He learns that intelligence is more important than looks.

3. Max

A dangerous spy who enters Ausable’s room with a gun. He is fooled by Ausable.

4. Henry

A waiter who comes with drinks. His arrival helps Ausable’s plan.

Important Questions and Answers

Q1. Why Fowler was disappoint when he was meet Ausable?

Answer: Fowler was disappointed because Ausable did not look like a secret agent. He was fat, ordinary, and slow-moving.

Q2. Why did Max enter Ausable’s room?

Answer: Max entered the room to steal an important report about missiles.

Q3. How did Ausable fool Max?

Answer: Ausable told Max that there was a balcony outside the window and that police were coming. Max believed him and jumped out.

Q4. Who knocked at the door?

Answer: Henry, thewaiter, knockedatthe door.

Q5. What lesson does the story teach?

Answer: The story teaches that intelligence and calmness are stronger than weapons and force.

Q6. Why did Max jump out of the window?

Answer: Max jumped out because he wanted to hide from the police.

Q7. Why did Fowler visit Ausable?

Answer: Fowler visited Ausable because he wanted to meet a real secret agent.

Hard Words Meaning

Secret Agent Spy

Suspense Excitement and fear

Ordinary Simple

Disappointed Sad

Dangerous Risky

Report Important paper

Missiles Weapons

Clever Smart

Calm Peaceful

Confident Sure of oneself

Fool Trick someone

Balcony Outside platform

Panic Sudden fear

Intelligent Wise

Important Points

Ausable was a secret agent.

Fowler wanted to see a real spy.

Ausable looked ordinary.

Max entered the room with a gun.

Ausable remained calm.

He lied about a balcony.

He lied about police.

Max believed him.

Max jumped from the window.

Henry was only a waiter.

Intelligence defeated force.

Short Note

The Midnight Visitor is a suspense story about Ausable, a clever secret agent. Max enters his room with a gun to steal a report. Ausable remains calm and tricks him with lies about a balcony and police. Max jumps out and falls. The story shows the power of intelligence.

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