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SUPPLEMENTARY
UNIT 4
The Midnight Visitor
- Robert Arthur

Warm up Page 135

Study the title of the story ‘ The Midnight Visitor’. Discuss in groups what the story is all about.
a. Certain professionals can be identified by their appearance.
What comes to your mind first when you think of a ‘pilot’ or a ‘traffic policeman’?
Discuss in pairs and share your thoughts with the class.
Supplementary - The Midnight Visitor

• When we think of a ‘pilot’ the picture of a professional with calm mind enjoying the beauty of the
twinkling stars comes to our mind.
• When we think of a traffic policeman, the picture of a duty - minded officer holding the signal
board in his hand directing the traffic earnestly comes to our mind.
b. Let us try to picturise people in a few interesting professions (based on
common perception there can be exceptions).
Form groups of four and draw a picture of one or two of the following:
• scientist  soldier  journalist
In your attempt to sketch you may include the following:
• typical dress  hair style  accessories

Summary

The story revolves around three characters, two rival spies named Ausable and Max and one
mystery writer Fowler. Ausable is a chubby, lethargic, messy and clumsy man while Max is slender and rugged.
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The story is a short but intriguing insight into the life of a spy which may not be as glamorous as in
the movies but still full of danger and suspense. Ausable meets Fowler, a writer fascinated by spies and secrets.
Ausable was expecting a sensitive document to arrive that night and so asks Fowler to follow him through the
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night. Though Fowler is disappointed at Ausable’s appearance and mannerisms, he agrees to do the same.
Suddenly, Ausable gets a phone call regarding someone who has entered his hotel room. Alarmed but not
overly worried he beckons Fowler to follow him to his room.
The room is on the 6th floor. As they enter the room, they are startled by a pistol-toting individual
staring at them. It is Max, the rival spy of Ausable. He asks them to enter and lock the room.He threatens
Ausable and warns him to hand over the documents to him as soon as they arrive at his room later that night.
Playing rather composed Ausable sits down and complains about the balcony window that he thought Max used
162 to break into his room.
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Max claims that he used the master key to get inside and had he known about the balcony he would
have used that instead. Ausable reiterates that he complained to the management about the balcony window
several times and has had previous break-ins. Fowler is listening to the conversation intently. Suddenly there
is a loud clamor at the door. Ausable suggests that it must be the police that he has arranged to safe keep the
documents.
Max gets anxious and asks Ausable to turn them away while he hides in the balcony. He threatens
to shoot if he smells any trickery. As soon as Max leaps outside the window he yells out of horror as he crashes
to the road below.The room has no balcony after all. Next, the door opens and Fowler sees a waiter holding
Ausable’s drinks; there is no policeman. Fowler is relieved and impressed by Ausable’s presence of mind. He
realizes that looks can truly be deceiving.

Glossary Page 137

musty - having a stale smell
wheezily - with a hissing sound while breathing
espionage - the practice of spying to obtain information
sloppy - careless and unsystematic

Supplementary - The Midnight Visitor

prosaic - ordinary, usual
inflection - modulation, intonation
sill - a slab of wood or stone at the foot of a window opening or doorway
deftly - skillfully

Textual Exercises
Page 138
1. Answer in a sentence or two the following questions.
a) Mention two features of Ausable that were uncharacteristic of a detective.
Ausable was very fat and his accent was mixed with American accent.
b) What was Ausable waiting for?
Ausable was waiting for a document.
c) Who was the Midnight Visitor? What was the purpose of his visit?
Max, another spy was the Midnight Visitor. He came to get the document from Ausable.
d) How had Max actually entered the room?

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Max actually had entered the room with the master key.
e) Did Max’s presence alarm Ausable?
Max’s presence alarmed Ausable but he did not reveal it on his face.
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f) How did Ausable describe the balcony and the manner in which one could get into his
room through it?
Ausable described that there was a balcony closer to his room and it was placed in such a way that
one could enter his room through it. He said that he had already had break-ins through the balcony
and he had complained to the management.
g) Where did Max try to hide himself?
Max tried to hide himself in the balcony.
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h) Who was Henry? Why had he visited Ausable’s room?
Henry was the waiter and he came to Ausable’s room to give the drinks he had ordered.
i) What happened to Max finally?
Max fell down and died.
2. Answer the following questions in about three to four sentences each.

a. Who was Fowler? Why did he meet Ausable?

Fowler was a young writer. He met Ausable to get some ideas about the report on the missile.
b. Why was Fowler initially disillusioned with Ausable?
Ausable did not suit any description of a spy. He was very fat and he had a mixed accent with
American accent. His room was on the 6th floor. His behaviour was not like that of a spy. So he was
initially disillusioned.
c. Fowler was thrilled when he entered Ausable’s room. Why?
Fowler was thrilled when he entered Ausable’s room because he saw a man standing inside the room
with the pistol in his hand. He threatened Fowler and Ausable with the automatic gun. He waved the
Supplementary - The Midnight Visitor

gun at them and asked them to sit down.

d. How, according to Ausable, had Max entered the room?
According to Ausable, Max had entered the room from the balcony. He said that there was a balcony
which belonged to the next apartment but it was closer to his window. One could easily come to his
room through the window.
e. How did the three men react to the knocking at the door?
Fowler jumped at the sudden knocking at the door thinking there must be some danger. Ausable just
smiled and said that it must be the police that had arrived. He had arranged for them to protect the
document. Max bit his lip nervously and was black with anger.
f. Was Ausable really waiting for the police? Give reasons.
Ausable was not waiting for the police. He thought of a plan to escape from Max. He prepared the
ground for Max to believe that there was a balcony which could be reached through the window
from his room. So when he heard the knock at the door he acted as if he was waiting for the police.
Hearing that Max went out through the window and fell down.
3. Answer in a paragraph in about 150 words the following questions.

a. How did Ausable outwit Max?

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Ausable spy – Max another spy – Ausable shocked – Max standing in his room – threatened to hand
over the document – Ausable composed – said Max broke open the balcony window – Max used
master key – had complained to the management about the balcony window – loud knocking –
Ausable, police had come – Max, send them away – would hide in the balcony – leapt outside – fell
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down – no balcony – waiter came

Title The Midnight Visitor

Author Robert Arthur
Theme The clever tricks of a spy to trap another spy

Ausable was a spy but he did not look so. Max was another spy who looked like a spy in
164 every aspect. When Ausable entered his room with Fowler he was a little alarmed to see Max inside
his room with an automatic pistol in his hand. He threatened Ausable to hand over the documents to
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him as soon as they arrived at his room later that night. Playing rather composed Ausable sat down
and complained about the balcony window that he thought Max used to break into his room. Max
claimed that he used the master key to get inside. Ausable reiterated that he had complained to the
management about the balcony window several times and had had previous break-ins. Suddenly,
there was a loud knocking at the door. Ausable said that it must be the police that he had arranged to
safe keep the documents. Max believed it and got anxious. He asked Ausable to turn them away while
he hid in the balcony. As soon as Max leapt outside the window he yelled out of horror as he crashed
to the road below. There was no balcony at all and no police man was there. It was the waiter who
had knocked at the door.

Intelligence outsmarts villiany

b. Describe the significance of the balcony.

Ausable enterd his room – Max was inside – pistol in hand - hand over the document – Ausable
composed – complained balcony widow – Max used master key – had complained about the balcony
window – loud knocking – Ausable – police had come – Max jumped out of the window – yelled – fell
down – no balcony – waiter came – balcony plan of Ausable.

Supplementary - The Midnight Visitor

Title The Midnight Visitor
Author Robert Arthur
Theme The clever tricks of a spy to trap another spy

When Ausable entered his room with Fowler he was a little alarmed to see Max inside his
room with an automatic pistol in his hand. He threatened Ausable to hand over the documents to
him as soon as they arrived at his room later that night. Playing rather composed, Ausable sat down
and complained about the balcony window that he thought Max used to break into his room. Max
claimed that he used the master key to get inside. Ausable reiterated that he had complained to the
management about the balcony window several times and had had previous break-ins. Suddenly there
was a loud knocking at the door. Ausable said that it must be the police that he had arranged to safe
keep the documents. Max believed it and got anxious. He asked Ausable to turn them away while he
hid in the balcony. As soon as Max leapt outside the window he yelled out of horror as he crashed to
the road below. There was no balcony at all and no police man was there. It was the waiter who had
knocked at the door. The balcony story was planned by Ausable to escape from Max.

To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect.

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c. Ausable planned to get rid of Max the very moment he noticed him. Explain with supporting
evidence from the story.
Ausable spy – Max a spy – Ausable entered room – Max standing there – hand over the
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document - - Ausable clever – created a story of balcony – no balcony – water came – said police –
Max jumped into non existing balcony

Title The Midnight Visitor

Author Robert Arthur
Theme The clever tricks of a spy to trap another spy

Ausable was a spy but he did not look so. Max was another spy who looked like a spy in
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every aspect. When Ausable entered his room with Fowler he was a little alarmed to see Max inside
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his room with an automatic pistol in his hand. He threatened Ausable to hand over the documents to
him as soon as they arrived at his room later that night. Ausable was very clever the way a detective
should be. He made the plan to get rid of Max from the very beginning which is evident from the story
of the imaginary balcony. He knew the waiter would come to deliver his drinks. He planned carefully
to create an imaginary policeman, which would have compelled Max to jump on the non-existent
balcony.

The difference between stupidity and intelligence is that genius has its limits.

d. Sketch the character of Ausable.

Ausable spy – Fowler a writer – Ausable not look a spy – intelligent – entered room – Max standing
there – hand over the document – created a story of balcony – someone else broke the balcony
window – Max leaped – fell down – no police no balcony – clever plan.

Title The Midnight Visitor

Author Robert Arthur
Theme The clever tricks of a spy to trap another spy
Supplementary - The Midnight Visitor

Ausable was a spy. Fowler, a young writer came to visit Ausable. Ausable did not look like a
spy. He was very fat and he talked with an American mixed accent. He was different from other spies
who would walk around at night with pistols. But he was very intelligent. When Ausable entered his
room with Fowler he was a little alarmed to see Max inside his room with an automatic pistol in his
hand. He threatened Ausable to hand over the documents to him as soon as they arrived at his room
later that night. In order to escape from Max Ausable created a detailed description of how his office
was part of a bigger apartment and how the next room had direct connection with the balcony. His
statement that somebody else also broke into his office through that balcony made it a convincing
story. As soon as Max leaped outside the window he yelled out of horror as he crashed to the road
below. There was no balcony at all and no police man was there. It was the waiter who had knocked
at the door. So it is very clear that Ausable was an intelligent spy.

Small minds are concerned with the extraordinary; great minds with the ordinary.

e. Do you think physical appearance matters most for a secret agent? Answer giving reasons
in the context of the story ‘The Midnight Visitor.’
Ausable spy no appearance – Max another spy – looked so – Ausable shocked – Max standing in his
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room – threatened to hand over the document – Ausable composed – said Max broke open the balcony
window – Max used master key – had complained to the management about the balcony window –
loud knocking – Ausable, police had come – Max, send them away – would hid in the balcony – leapt
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outside – fell down – no balcony – no police – waiter came – appearance no help

Title The Midnight Visitor

Author Robert Arthur
Theme The clever tricks of a spy to trap another spy

Ausable was a spy but he did not look so. Max was another spy who looked like a spy in
every aspect. When Ausable entered his room with Fowler he was little alarmed to see Max inside
166 his room with an automatic pistol in his hand. He threatened Ausable to hand over the documents to
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him as soon as they arrived at his room later that night. Playing rather composed, Ausable sat down
and complained about the balcony window that he thought Max used to break into his room. Ausable
reiterated that he had complained to the management about the balcony window several times and
had had previous break-ins. Suddenly there was a loud knocking at the door. Ausable said that it must
be the police that he had arranged to safe keep the documents. Max believed it and got anxious.
He asked Ausable to turn them away while he hid in the balcony. As soon as Max leapt outside the
window he yelled out of horror as he crashed to the road below. There was no balcony at all and no
police man was there. It was the waiter who had knocked at the door. Max’ appearance as a real spy
did help him. So physical appearance does not matter for a secret agent.

Wherever smart people work, doors and unlocked.

f. The unexpected presence of a criminal wielding a gun triggers different reactions in the
two men who entered the room. In this light, discuss the appropriacy of the title.

two rival spies – Ausable, Max – Ausable clumsy – Max slender – story full of danger and suspense
– Fowler a writer – Ausable expecting a document – entered his room – Max standting there – hand

Supplementary - The Midnight Visitor

over the document – Ausable composed – midnight visitor changed the story

Title The Midnight Visitor

Author Robert Arthur
Theme The clever tricks of a spy to trap another spy

The story revolves around three characters, two rival spies named Ausable and Max and
one mystery writer Fowler. Ausable is a chubby, lethargic, messy and clumsy man while Max is
slender and rugged. The story is a short but intriguing insight into the life of a spy which may not be
as glamorous as in the movies but still full of danger and suspense.Ausable meets Fowler, a writer
fascinated by spies and secrets. Ausable was expecting a sensitive document to arrive that night and
so asked Fowler to follow him through the night. When Ausable entered his room with Fowler he was
little alarmed to see Max inside his room with an automatic pistol in his hand. Flower was thrilled at
the sight of the man. Max threatened Ausable to hand over the documents to him as soon as they
arrived at his room later that night. Though Ausable is a little alarmed he played rather composed and
sits down. All the incidents happened after the midnight visitor’s visit to Ausable’s room. The story of
the balcony and the police was essential because of the presence of the midnight visitor.

Presence of mind overtakes presence of peril.

Additional 4
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Answer in a paragraph of about 150 words the following question.

1. Tell the story of ‘Midnight Visitor’ in your own words.

Ausable spy – Fowler writer – Ausable fat – unlike spy – important paper – reached home – scared
to see Max – Max looked like a spy – came to get the document – Ausable fabricated a story about a
non-existing balcony – Max believed – knock at the door – police – Max jumped out to escape – died
– no police only a waiter 167
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Title The Midnight Visitor
Author Robert Arthur
Theme The clever tricks of a spy to trap another spy

Ausable was a spy and Fowler, a young writer came to visit him. Fowler was surprised to
see a secret agent Ausable, who was too fat to be a secret agent. Ausable told him that he was going
to get an important paper for which many men had risked their lives. When both of them reached
Ausable’s room, Fowler was scared to see a man standing in the room. Max, who was tall and thin,
was holding an automatic pistol in his hand. He had entered his room by using a key to take the report
concerning a new missile. Ausable sensing the danger, fabricated a story about the non-existent
balcony which Max believed to be true. Ausable complained that it was due to the balcony that
somebody had entered his room the second time. After sometime there was a knocking at the door.
Ausable again befooled Max by saying that it was the police who wanted to come inside to provide
him protection. Max wanted to run away to avoid the police and jumped to his death into that non-
existent balcony.

Smartness outsmarts deception

Supplementary - The Midnight Visitor

4. Look at the following expressions used in the story. Match them with their meanings.

let down – to complain or scold

chuckled to himself – try one’s luck / take a risk
take cheer – become enraged
raise the devil – disappointed
black with anger – laughed softly to himself
take chances – to be encouraged

Answers
let down – disappointed
chuckled to himself – laughed softly to himself
take cheer – to be encouraged
raise the devil – to complain or scold
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black with anger – become enraged

take chances – try one’s luck / take a risk
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5. Based on your understanding of the story, complete the Graphs Organiser (GO) suitably

Title : The Midnight Visitor Author : Robert Arthur

Setting Plot

In Ausable’s room on the 6th floor Ausable, a spy out-wits Max, another spy.

Characters Climax

Ausable – spy; Max – spy Max leaps through the window to reach
Fowler – writer; Henry – waiter the non-existing balcony and dies.

6. Given below are pictures of fictitious detective characters in English & Tamil short stories.
Match them with the authors who created them.

Supplementary - The Midnight Visitor

Shankar Lal Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson
Author : Tamizhvanan Author : Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Ganesh, Vasanth Sambu

Author : Sujatha Author : Devan

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Hercule Poirot
Author : Agatha Christie

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