NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (Footprints Without Feet) Chapter 3: The Midnight Visitor

Complete solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 3 – “The Midnight Visitor” by Robert Arthur: summary, theme, word meanings and every textbook exercise (Read and Find Out, Think about it, Talk about it) answered in full. The questions are reproduced exactly as in the NCERT book, and each answer is written in clear, exam-ready CBSE style.

Class: 10 Subject: English Book: Footprints Without Feet Type: Story (Chapter 3) Author: Robert Arthur Session: 2026–27
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About the author

Robert Arthur Jr. (1909–1969) was an American writer of mystery and speculative fiction, best known for his suspenseful short stories and for his work in radio and television. He twice won the Edgar Award given by the Mystery Writers of America. Arthur was closely associated with Alfred Hitchcock anthologies and created the popular juvenile detective series The Three Investigators. His stories are admired for their tight plotting, surprise endings and clever, quick-thinking characters – qualities clearly seen in “The Midnight Visitor”.

Summary

“The Midnight Visitor” is a witty spy thriller built around presence of mind. Ausable is a secret agent who is the very opposite of the romantic image of a spy. He is extremely fat, speaks French and German with a lingering American accent, and lives in a small room on the top floor of a gloomy French hotel. Fowler, a young and romantic writer, has tagged along hoping for adventure but is thoroughly disappointed by Ausable’s dull, ordinary manner.

That night Ausable is expecting an important report about new missiles – a paper several people have risked their lives for. When he switches on the light in his room, the two men find a rival agent, Max, waiting with an automatic pistol. Max coolly announces that he intends to take the report. Instead of panicking, Ausable complains irritably that this is the second time someone has entered through the “balcony” of the next apartment, inventing a detailed, convincing story about how the balcony extends under his window.

When a sudden knock comes at the door, Ausable claims it is the police he had asked to guard the paper. Frightened, Max threatens to shoot but decides to escape onto the balcony, swinging his legs over the window-sill. As he drops, he screams and falls – because there is no balcony at all. The knock was only Henry, a waiter delivering a drink Ausable had ordered. Through sheer presence of mind and a clever lie, the unimpressive Ausable outwits the armed Max and keeps the report safe.

Theme & message

The central theme of the story is presence of mind – the power of calm, quick thinking over fear and force. Ausable defeats an armed opponent not with a weapon but with imagination and self-control, turning ordinary details (a window, a waiter’s knock) into a winning trap. The story also overturns the glamorous stereotype of the spy: true competence can hide behind a dull, unremarkable exterior. Its message is that wit, observation and a cool head are far more valuable in a crisis than appearance or brute strength.

Word meanings

WordEnglish meaningHindi meaning
mustysmelling stale and dampसीलन / बासी मारि
gloomydark and dull; depressingउदास, अंधेरा
espionagespyingजासूसी
romanticimaginative; having a fanciful view of realityकल्पनाशील
passablyjust well enough; tolerably wellखासा चलने लायक
wheezily / wheezedspoke breathing noisily and heavilyहांफते हुए
chuckledlaughed quietlyधीरे से हंसा
prosaicordinary; dullसाधारण, नीरस
disillusioneddisappointed on losing a false beliefमोहभंग / निराश
sloppy(here) carelessly dressedलापरवाह, आलसी
countenanceface; facial expressionचेहरा, मुखमुद्रा
craftycunning, slyचालाक, धूर्त
menacingthreateningधमकी भरा
missilesweapons directed by remote control or automaticallyप्रक्षेपास्त्र
passkeya master key that opens many locksमास्टर चाभी
inflectionchange in the pitch of the voiceस्वर में उतार-च୪ाव
grimlyin a stern, gloomy wayरूखे / गंभीरता से
moodilyin a sulky, ill-tempered mannerखिन्नता से
deftlyskilfully and quicklyचतुराई से
shrillypiercingly; in a high pitchतीखी / चीखते स्वर में

Read and Find Out

How is Ausable different from other secret agents?

ANSWERAusable is the very opposite of the romantic, glamorous spy found in books and films. He is very fat, speaks French and German with an American accent he never lost, and lives in a small, ordinary room on the top floor of a shabby French hotel. He gets his appointments through a plain telephone call rather than secret notes from mysterious beauties. Unlike the typical action-hero agent, his real strength lies in his sharp mind and remarkable presence of mind.

Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day?

ANSWERFowler is a young and romantic writer who has come to meet Ausable, hoping to witness the excitement of a spy’s life. He gets his first authentic thrill of the day when Ausable switches on the light in his room and they find another agent, Max, standing there with a small automatic pistol in his hand. This sudden, dangerous moment is the real adventure Fowler had been waiting for.

How has Max got in?

ANSWERMax entered the room using a passkey – a master key that can open the lock. He himself tells Ausable that he came in through the door with a passkey and did not even know about any balcony.

How does Ausable say he got in?

ANSWERAusable pretends that Max got in through a balcony. He invents a detailed story that the room was once part of a larger unit, that the next apartment’s balcony now extends under his window, and that someone had entered that way the previous month. By making this lie sound convincing, he sets the trap that finally leads Max to leap to his death.

Think about it

1. “Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read.” What do secret agents in books and films look like, in your opinion? Discuss in groups or in class some stories or movies featuring spies, detectives and secret agents, and compare their appearance with that of Ausable in this story. (You may mention characters from fiction in languages other than English. In English fiction you may have come across Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, or Miss Marple. Have you watched any movies featuring James Bond?)

ANSWERIn most books and films, secret agents and detectives are shown as smart, fit and stylish. James Bond, for example, is tall, handsome, well-dressed, drives fast cars and handles weapons and gadgets with ease. Sherlock Holmes is sharp-featured and imposing, while Hercule Poirot is famous for his neat appearance and elegant moustache. They usually look impressive, confident and physically capable.Ausable is completely different from this image. He is fat, sloppily dressed, speaks with an American accent and lives in a dull, cramped room. There is nothing dashing about him. Yet, like the great fictional detectives, his true power lies in his intelligence and presence of mind – proving that a brilliant mind matters far more than an impressive appearance.

2. How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room? Look back at his detailed description of it. What makes it a convincing story?

ANSWERAusable convinces Max by reacting with believable, natural irritation rather than fear. He angrily complains that this is the second time in a month that someone has entered through the “nuisance of a balcony,” as though it were a genuine, ongoing problem. He then gives a precise, logical explanation: the room was once part of a larger unit, the next apartment’s balcony extends under his window, one can reach it from an empty room two doors down, and the management had promised to block it off but had not.The story is convincing because of these realistic details, the casual, exasperated tone, and the fact that Max himself had used a passkey and did not know how he had entered – so the balcony explanation fits without contradiction. The mention of an earlier intruder makes it sound like an old, familiar complaint, leaving Max with no reason to doubt it.

3. Looking back at the story, when do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max? Do you think he had worked out his plan in detail right from the beginning? Or did he make up a plan taking advantage of events as they happened?

ANSWERAusable did not have a complete plan ready from the start. It is clear that he made up his plan on the spot, cleverly using events as they happened. The lie about the balcony was invented the moment he saw Max and needed an explanation, and the “police” story was built around the knock at the door – which he actually knew was only Henry the waiter bringing the drink he had ordered.This shows Ausable’s extraordinary presence of mind. Instead of panicking before an armed enemy, he stayed calm, observed the situation, and used the window, the timing and the knock to his advantage. His plan was improvised step by step, which makes his victory even more impressive.

Talk about it

1. In this story, Ausable shows great ‘presence of mind,’ or the ability to think quickly, and act calmly and wisely, in a situation of danger and surprise. Give examples from your own experience, or narrate a story, which shows someone’s presence of mind.

ANSWERPresence of mind means staying calm and thinking clearly in a sudden crisis. (Sample) Once, during a school function, the stage curtain caught a spark from a faulty light and began to smoulder. While others froze, a senior student quickly pulled the curtain down, stamped out the small flames, and switched off the main power before the fire could spread. His quick, calm action prevented a serious accident.Another example is of a bus driver who, when his brakes failed on a slope, steered the bus into a roadside bank instead of letting it speed downhill, saving all the passengers. Like Ausable, such people succeed not because they are fearless, but because they think clearly and act wisely under pressure. (Share an example from your own experience.)

2. Discuss what you would do in the situations described below. Remember that presence of mind comes out of a state of mental preparedness. If you have thought about possible problems or dangers, and about how to act in such situations, you have a better chance of dealing with such situations if they do arise.

• A small fire starts in your kitchen.• A child starts to choke on a piece of food.• An electrical appliance starts to hiss and gives out sparks.• A bicycle knocks down a pedestrian.• It rains continuously for more than twenty-four hours.• A member of your family does not return home at the usual or expected time.

ANSWERSmall kitchen fire: Turn off the gas/stove at once, cover the flame with a lid or a damp cloth, or smother it with sand – never throw water on an oil fire. Keep calm and call for help if it spreads.A child choking: Stay calm, encourage the child to cough, and give firm back-blows between the shoulder blades; for an older child use abdominal thrusts. Seek medical help immediately if breathing does not return.Sparking appliance: Switch off the main power before touching anything, unplug the appliance only when it is safe, and do not use water near electricity. Get it repaired before reusing.Bicycle knocks down a pedestrian: Stop, check if the person is hurt, help them to a safe place, give first aid or call for medical help, and inform an adult or the authorities.Continuous rain for 24+ hours: Move valuables and electrical items to higher places, avoid going out, store drinking water and dry food, stay tuned to news and alerts, and shift to a safer place if there is a flood warning.A family member not returning on time: Stay calm, try to contact them by phone, ask their friends or workplace, wait a reasonable time, and if there is genuine worry inform other relatives or the police. (You may suggest other such situations and discuss them in class.)

Suggested reading (from the textbook): ‘After Twenty Years’ by O. Henry; ‘The Stolen Bacillus’ by H.G. Wells; ‘The Face on the Wall’ by E.V. Lucas.

Extra questions

Short answer (30–40 words)

1. Why was Fowler disappointed when he first met Ausable?

ANSWERFowler had expected an exciting, glamorous spy. Instead he found Ausable to be a fat, sloppily dressed man living in a dull room, who got his appointments through an ordinary phone call. There was nothing romantic or thrilling about him, which let Fowler down.

2. What report was Ausable waiting for that night?

ANSWERAusable was waiting for an extremely important report concerning some new missiles. Several men and women had risked their lives for this paper, and Ausable believed it could affect the course of history. The appointment to receive it was fixed for twelve-thirty.

3. How did Max react when he heard the knock at the door?

ANSWERMax became nervous and bit his lip. When Ausable said it was the police, Max grew angry and frightened. He decided to escape onto the “balcony,” warning Ausable to send the visitors away or he would shoot, and he climbed over the window-sill.

4. Who was Henry, and why was he important to the plot?

ANSWERHenry was a waiter at the hotel whom Ausable was expecting to bring a drink he had ordered. His knock at the door was important because Ausable used it to fool Max into thinking the police had arrived, frightening Max into leaping out of the window.

5. Why did Max scream as he dropped from the window-sill?

ANSWERMax screamed because there was no balcony at all beneath the window. Believing Ausable’s false story, he swung over the sill expecting to land on a balcony, but instead he fell straight down from the sixth floor, screaming in shock and fear as he dropped.

Long answer (100–120 words)

6. “The Midnight Visitor proves that intelligence is more powerful than weapons.” Discuss with reference to the story.

ANSWERThe story strongly supports the idea that intelligence triumphs over force. Max enters armed with a pistol and is fully in control of the situation, while Ausable has no weapon and appears dull and unimpressive. Yet Ausable defeats him purely through quick thinking. He stays calm, invents a believable balcony, and cleverly uses the waiter’s knock to convince Max that the police have come. Trapped by his own fear, Max leaps out of a window that has no balcony and falls to his death. At no point does Ausable need to fight or fire a shot. His victory shows that a sharp, calm mind and presence of mind are far more powerful than any weapon.

7. Write a character sketch of Ausable.

ANSWERAusable is the most memorable character in the story and a perfect example of unexpected brilliance. Outwardly he is unimpressive – fat, sloppily dressed, with an American accent and a plain hotel room – the opposite of a romantic spy. However, he is highly intelligent and observant, noticing every detail of his surroundings. His greatest quality is his presence of mind: faced with an armed enemy, he remains completely calm and composed. He is also imaginative and quick-witted, inventing the balcony lie and the police story on the spot. Far from being a failure as an agent, Ausable proves to be a master spy who wins through wit rather than weapons, leaving both Max and the reader impressed.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Where did Ausable live?

(a) A grand mansion   (b) A small top-floor room in a French hotel   (c) A secret bunker   (d) A luxury apartment in Berlin

2. Fowler is described in the story as a:

(a) policeman   (b) waiter   (c) young, romantic writer   (d) rival spy

3. What was the important report about?

(a) new missiles   (b) gold reserves   (c) a peace treaty   (d) troop movements

4. How did Max actually enter Ausable’s room?

(a) through the balcony   (b) through the window   (c) with a passkey   (d) by breaking the lock

5. Max’s features were compared to those of a:

(a) wolf   (b) fox   (c) cat   (d) hawk

6. At what time was Ausable’s appointment to receive the report?

(a) eleven o’clock   (b) midnight   (c) twelve-thirty   (d) one o’clock

7. Who was actually knocking at the door?

(a) the police   (b) another spy   (c) Henry the waiter   (d) the hotel manager

8. Why did Max jump out of the window?

(a) to attack Fowler   (b) to escape onto the balcony   (c) to call for help   (d) to surrender

9. What did the waiter actually bring into the room?

(a) a letter   (b) a tray with a bottle and two glasses   (c) the report   (d) a gun

10. The main theme of the story is:

(a) the glamour of spying   (b) presence of mind   (c) the importance of weapons   (d) loyalty among spies

Answer key: 1-(b)   2-(c)   3-(a)   4-(c)   5-(b)   6-(c)   7-(c)   8-(b)   9-(b)   10-(b)

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Ausable did not fit the usual description of a secret agent.

Reason (R): He was fat, sloppily dressed and spoke with an American accent.

2. Assertion (A): Max leapt out of the window and fell to his death.

Reason (R): He believed Ausable’s false story that a balcony lay below the window.

3. Assertion (A): Ausable remained calm when he saw Max with a pistol.

Reason (R): Ausable was unarmed and far weaker than Max.

4. Assertion (A): The knock at the door was made by the police.

Reason (R): Ausable had asked the police to guard the important paper.

5. Assertion (A): Ausable had planned every detail of his trick before Max arrived.

Reason (R): He used the events as they happened, improvising the balcony and police stories.

Answer key: 1-(a) Both true, R explains A.   2-(a) Both true, R explains A.   3-(b) Both true, but R does not fully explain his calmness, which came from his presence of mind.   4-(d) A is false (it was Henry the waiter, not the police), while R states what Ausable falsely claimed.   5-(d) A is false (he improvised), while R is true.

Exam tips

• Remember the four characters clearly: Ausable (clever agent), Fowler (young writer), Max (rival spy), and Henry (the waiter). Questions often test who did what.

• The key word for every answer is presence of mind – link Ausable’s victory to quick, calm thinking, not to weapons.

• Note the two clever lies (the balcony and the police) and how each one works – they are common 3-mark questions.

• For the twist ending, state clearly that there was no balcony, so Max fell from the sixth floor.

FAQs

Who is the author of ‘The Midnight Visitor’?

The story ‘The Midnight Visitor’ is written by Robert Arthur, an American writer famous for mystery and suspense fiction with surprise endings.

How does Ausable outwit Max in the story?

Ausable invents a convincing story about a balcony below his window and then uses a waiter’s knock, which he claims is the police, to frighten Max into leaping out of the window – where there is no balcony.

What is the main theme of ‘The Midnight Visitor’?

The main theme is presence of mind – the story shows that calm, quick thinking is more powerful than fear, force or weapons.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT Footprints Without Feet textbook; summaries and answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

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