Class 10 English - TAMILNADU
Supplementary: The Midnight Visitor
Supplementary: The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur is an engaging detective story featured in the Class 10 English curriculum for Tamil Nadu Samacheer Kalvi students. The chapter revolves around Ausable, a secret agent who defies the traditional stereotype of a spy by being fat and sloppy. However, his sharp wit and remarkable presence of mind are tested when he finds a rival agent, Max, waiting in his hotel room with a pistol. The chapter teaches students that intelligence, quick thinking, and calmness under pressure are far more powerful than physical strength or weapons, making it a favorite for board exam comprehension and character analysis questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Ausable's Unconventional Appearance
Ausable does not look like a typical secret agent; he is extremely fat and speaks with an American accent, which catches Fowler and the readers by surprise.
The Threat of Max
Max, a slim and crafty rival secret agent, sneaks into Ausable's room with a passkey and a pistol to steal an important secret report regarding new missiles.
Ausable's Clever Balcony Story
To outwit Max, Ausable calmly invents a fictional story about a non-existent balcony right outside his window, claiming it is the second time someone has broken in that way.
The Climax and Max's Demise
When someone loudly knocks at the door, Ausable convinces a panicked Max that it is the police. Max jumps out of the window onto the supposed balcony and falls to his death.
Fowler's Disillusionment and Realization
Fowler, a young writer who expected an exciting evening of danger and romance, instead learns that danger can wear unexpected faces and true intelligence requires mental agility.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Tamil Nadu (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 10 English Board Examinations, supplementary reading questions from this chapter typically carry around 5 to 8 marks. Questions usually appear as paragraph-writing tasks, character sketches of Ausable or Max, or short-answer questions testing comprehension of the plot twists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there really a balcony outside Ausable's hotel room window?
No, there was no balcony at all. Ausable completely fabricated the story of the balcony on the spot to trick Max into jumping out of the window.
Who was actually knocking at the door at the end of the story?
It was just Henry, the waiter who had brought the bottle of wine and drinks that Ausable had ordered earlier.
How does Ausable prove he is a clever secret agent despite his looks?
He uses his exceptional presence of mind to invent a believable lie about a balcony and the police, creating a panic that causes Max to defeat himself.
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