A Question of Trust Class 10 English Complete Chapter Summary Under 10 Mins | Class 10 Boards 2023

Horace Danby, a respectable 50-year-old locksmith, had a secret: he was a thief. Annually, he robbed a safe to fund his expensive hobby of collecting rare books. He meticulously planned each burglary, researching his targets thoroughly.

Horace targeted Shotover Grange, studying it for two weeks. When the owners were away and caretakers at a movie, he entered the house. He picked a key, wore gloves to avoid fingerprints, and calmly greeted the dog, Sherry. He located the safe behind a painting, but a vase of flowers triggered his hay fever, causing him to sneeze repeatedly. He cut the burglar alarm.

A young lady in red, appearing to be the house owner's wife, confronted Horace. She convinced him she was there to retrieve her jewels for a party, claiming she'd forgotten the safe's combination. Fearing arrest, Horace agreed to open the safe for her without his gloves.

A few days later, Horace was arrested for the burglary. His fingerprints were found everywhere. He confessed to opening the safe for the young lady, but no one believed him because the actual owner's wife was 60 years old. The woman who tricked him was also a thief. Horace was imprisoned and became an assistant librarian.

Horace frequently reflected on the cunning young lady who outsmarted him. The experience made him angry and upset whenever the phrase 'honor among thieves' was mentioned, highlighting the betrayal he felt.