Class 10 English - KERALA
Supplementary: The Midnight Visitor
Supplementary: The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur is an engaging detective story featured in the Class 10 Kerala SCERT English textbook. It revolves around Ausable, a secret agent who defies the traditional stereotype of a spy by being fat and sloppy. The chapter highlights the power of presence of mind, quick thinking, and intelligence over physical strength and weapons. Ausable brilliantly outwits a rival spy named Max, who enters his hotel room with a pistol, by inventing a plausible story about a nonexistent balcony. This chapter is important for board exams as it tests reading comprehension and narrative analysis.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Ausable's Unconventional Appearance
Unlike typical fictional secret agents who are athletic and dashing, Ausable is very fat, slovenly, and speaks with an American accent, subverting readers' expectations.
Fowler's Disappointment
Fowler, a young and romantic writer, expects excitement and danger when accompanying Ausable, but is initially disappointed by the dull and mundane atmosphere.
Max's Threat
Max, a rival secret agent, sneaks into Ausable's room holding a pistol to steal an important report concerning new missiles.
The Balcony Trick
Ausable displays extraordinary presence of mind by fabricating a story about a non-existent balcony beneath his window to trick Max.
The Climax and Resolution
When a knock is heard at the door, Ausable convinces Max it is the police. In panic, Max jumps out of the window onto the supposed balcony and falls to his death.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Kerala (SCERT) Class 10 English board exams, questions from supplementary readers typically carry around 4 to 8 marks. Common question types include character sketches of Ausable and Max, short answer questions about the plot twist, and paragraph-length questions analyzing the theme of intelligence over physical force.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fowler was disappointed because Ausable did not look or act like a secret agent from romantic novels; he was very fat, sloppy, and lived in a small, dull French hotel room.
Was there really a balcony outside Ausable's room?
No, there was no balcony. Ausable completely made up the story about the balcony to trick Max and create a trap for him.
Who actually knocked at the door?
The person knocking at the door was only the waiter, Henry, who had brought the wine bottles as ordered by Ausable earlier.
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