---
type: "Chapter"
knowledge_type: "chapter"
entity_type: "chapter"
id: "66c70ff65ad974e312ade1cf"
title: "A Question of Trust"
board: "CBSE"
curriculum: "CBSE"
class: "Class 10"
subject: "English"
book: "Foot Prints Without feet"
chapter: "A Question of Trust"
chapter_slug: "a-question-of-trust"
canonical_url: "https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-10-english-foot-prints-without-feet-a-question-of-trust"
markdown_url: "https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-10-english-foot-prints-without-feet-a-question-of-trust.md"
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source_id: "66c70ff65ad974e312ade1cf"
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source: "Edzy"
version: 1
last_updated: "2026-06-22"
---

# A Question of Trust
This chapter revolves around Horace Danby, a seemingly honest man with a secret life as a burglar. He meticulously plans an annual robbery to fund his passion for rare books. However, his latest heist leads to an unexpected encounter that turns his life upside down.

---

## Knowledge Snapshot

| Field | Details |
| :--- | :--- |
| Class | Class 10 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Foot Prints Without feet |
| Chapter | A Question of Trust |
| Pages | 20-25 |

---

## Chapter Summary

### Short Summary
Horace Danby, a respectable man, steals once a year to finance his love for rare books but encounters unexpected trouble when caught during a robbery.

### Detailed Summary
Horace Danby, a fifty-year-old unmarried man, leads a respectable life as a lock maker but has a hidden side—a pattern of annual thefts to support his book collection. He meticulously plans his heists, and this year targets Shotover Grange, believing that the absence of the family will make for an easy heist. However, his plans go awry when he is unexpectedly confronted by a young woman in the house who discovers him. Instead of reporting him, she cleverly tricks him into opening the safe for her, claiming she forgot the combination. After successfully stealing the jewels, he thinks he's outsmarted her, but ultimately, his fingerprints lead to his arrest, and he finds himself back in prison as a library assistant, reflecting on his misjudged confidence in ‘honour among thieves’.

---

## Topic-Wise Explanation

### Introduction to the Story
The story introduces Horace Danby, a thief driven by his love for rare books, and sets the stage for his heist at Shotover Grange.

### Character Introduction
Horace Danby is depicted as a meticulous planner with a passion for books, juxtaposed against societal expectations of honesty.

### The Plan
Horace plans his annual theft based on careful observations of the house and strategizes meticulously to avoid detection.

### The Twist
The unexpected encounter with the young woman who tricks him into revealing the safe combination serves as a significant turning point in the story.

### Conclusion
Horace’s capture illustrates the collapse of his carefully laid plans, leading to his imprisonment and a new life in a library, highlighting the irony of his situation.

---

## Character Analysis

| Character | Role |
| :--- | :--- |
| Horace Danby | A respectable thief whose plans are thwarted by his own mistakes; ultimately arrested due to overconfidence. |
| Young Woman | Intelligent and cunning; successfully tricks Horace into helping her while demonstrating disdain for his criminal behavior. |

---

## Core Ideas

| Idea | Explanation |
| :--- | :--- |
| Irony of Trust | Horace attempts to manipulate trust with the young woman, but ultimately his lack of foresight leads to his downfall. |

---

## Key Concepts

| Concept | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Theft | The act of stealing, which is central to Horace's character and motivation. |

---

## Important Points for Revision

* Horace Danby robs every year to fund his rare book collection.
* He meticulously studies his targets before executing his plans.
* During his latest heist, he encounters a young woman who surprises him.
* The young woman cleverly manipulates the situation, leading Horace to open the safe for her.
* Despite his plans, Horace's fingerprints lead to his arrest.
* The chapter explores themes of trust and manipulation.

---

## Vocabulary and Glossary

| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
| :--- | :--- |
| Heist | A robbery or theft, especially one involving a significant amount of money or valuables. |

---

## Practice Questions

### Short Answer Questions
1. What does Horace Danby collect?
2. How does Horace plan his thefts?
3. Who does Horace encounter during his robbery?
4. What does the young woman ask Horace to do?
5. How does Horace’s plan ultimately fail?

### Long Answer Questions
1. Discuss the character of Horace Danby and his motivations for theft.
2. Analyze the twist in the story and its implications on Horace's fate.
3. Explore the theme of trust as depicted in the relationship between Horace and the young woman.

---

## Related Concepts

* Burglary
* Deception
* Honour among thieves

---

## Source Attribution

| Field | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Source | Edzy |
| Reference Type | examSubjectBookChapter |
| Reference ID | 66c70ff65ad974e312ade1cf |
| Canonical URL | https://www.edzy.ai/cbse-class-10-english-foot-prints-without-feet-a-question-of-trust |
| Markdown URL | https://www.edzy.ai/okf/chapter/cbse-class-10-english-foot-prints-without-feet-a-question-of-trust.md |