Chapter 5 - Footprints without Feet

Page No: 14

Read and Find Out

Q1. How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
Answer
Ausable was different from other secret agents in more ways than one. He had a small room in the musty corridor of a gloomy French hotel. It was on the sixth and top floor and it was scarcely the setting for a romantic adventure. He was extremely fat. Inspite of living in Paris for over twenty years, he spoke French and German only passably and had an American accent. Instead of getting messages slipped into his hands by dark-eyed beauties, he got only a telephone call making an appointment. In these ways, he was different from the conventional notion of a spy.

Q2. Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day?
Answer
Fowler was a writer and he had come to meet Ausable.
Fowler’s first authentic thrill of the day came when he saw a man in Ausable’s room pointing a pistol towards Ausable and himself.

Page No: 15

Read and Find Out

Q1. How has Max got in?
Answer
Max had got into the room with a passkey or a master key.

Q2. How does Ausable say he got in?
Answer
Ausable said that he thought Max had got into the room through the balcony. He said that it was the second time in a month that somebody had got into his room this way.

Page No: 18

Think about It

Q1. “Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler hand 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?)
Answer
Secret agents in fiction are projected like ideal men, ‘Tall dark and handsome’. They are usually well built and keep have beautiful women for company. They would always smoke pipe or cigar and do death defying stunts. James Bond is a very famous character by Ian Fleming. Movies based on James Bond show hi-tech gizmos whch assist the detective in countering villains. There are some exceptions as well. There is a character named Feluda which was created by Satyajit Ray, the famous Bangla Filmmaker. Feluda was typical bhadralok by appearance.


Q2. 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?
Answer
Ausable tells Max that someone entered his room through the balcony before also. He also told him that he had asked police to give him protection as he had some important papers with him. On listening Max became nervous and just wanted to escape from police, as a result without noticing he jumped out of the window and fell down. Ausable’s ability to think quickly and calmly, in a situation of panic makes it convincing.

Q3. 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?
Answer
No, I don’t think that he had worked out his plan in detail. He took advantages of the event as they happened. Ausable made a story of the balcony outside the room and as there was a knock at the door, he told it would be police, all this events threatened Max. In such a hurry, he became restless and without seeing jumped out of the window.

Talk about It

Q1. 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.
Answer
This story is reference to the play ‘If I were you’. Gurrad was captured by a criminal and the criminal pointed gun towards him but he treated the criminal as a guest and trapped him in his confidence. He achieved the criminal to run away as police is behind him. He told the criminal to run through the exit door, which was actually a cupboard door. The criminal exited through the door and was caught in the cupboard.

**Footprint without Feet: Class 10**

**Q1: Who is the author of the story "Footprint without Feet"?**

The author of the story "Footprint without Feet" is H.G. Wells. He was a renowned English writer and is considered one of the pioneers of science fiction. He wrote numerous novels, short stories, and essays, and his works have had a significant impact on the genre of science fiction.

**Q2: What is the central theme of the story?**

The central theme of "Footprint without Feet" revolves around the idea of scientific experimentation and its consequences. The story explores the concept of invisibility and the moral dilemmas that arise from having such power. It delves into the ethical implications of invisibility and how it can corrupt an individual's character.

**Q3: What is the plot of the story?**

The story follows the character of Griffin, a scientist who discovers the secret of invisibility. He experiments on himself and becomes completely invisible. However, Griffin's newfound power leads to his isolation from society and his descent into madness. He becomes a recluse and resorts to criminal activities to sustain himself.

Griffin's invisible presence creates a sense of fear and chaos among the people in the town where he resides. He terrorizes the community and commits several crimes, including theft and assault. Eventually, the townspeople come together and form a mob to capture and apprehend Griffin.

**Q4: What are the moral lessons conveyed in the story?**

"Footprint without Feet" conveys several moral lessons. It highlights the importance of responsibility and ethical considerations in scientific advancements. The story emphasizes that power should be used for the betterment of humanity and not for personal gain or harm.

Additionally, the story warns against the dangers of unchecked ambition and the negative consequences it can have on an individual's life. It serves as a cautionary tale about the potential corruption that can arise from possessing extraordinary abilities.

**Q5: How does the story end?**

The story ends with the townspeople successfully capturing Griffin and tying him up. They plan to hand him over to the authorities and put an end to his reign of terror. However, in the final moments, Griffin manages to escape from their grasp by removing his clothes and becoming completely invisible once again. The story concludes with the townspeople unable to find him and their realization that they are dealing with an unseen threat.

This ending leaves the readers with a sense of uncertainty, reflecting the idea that the consequences of scientific experimentation can be unpredictable and difficult to control.

In conclusion, "Footprint without Feet" by H.G. Wells is a thought-provoking story that explores the moral and ethical implications of invisibility. It serves as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of unchecked scientific advancements and the importance of responsibility in wielding power.