Introduction: The Midnight Visitor - Class 10 PDF Download

About the Author- Robert Arthur
Robert Arthur – A Short Biography

About the Author

Robert Arthur Jr. was an American writer of mystery and speculative fiction. His fame rests on ‘The Mysterious Traveller’ radio series and his ‘Three Investigators’ series of novels. His stories were published in many magazines between 1930 and 1940. He also wrote mystery books for children. He was twice honoured by the ‘Mystery Writers of America’ with his writing partner Edgar. He died in 1969 in Philadelphia.

Introduction

Ausable is a secret agent. He is expecting to get an important paper. Max, an intruder, enters his room. He wants to get that paper from Ausable. He has a pistol in his hand. Ausable, being quite normal, plays upon a trick on Max and gets him killed without any fighting and shooting.

The theme of the Story 

‘The Midnight Visitor’ is a very thrilling account of a secret agent Ausable’s one particular episode. Ausable didn’t fit any description of a secret agent. He didn’t live up to the romantic picture of a secret agent that we read in books or see in films. He was rather fat and sloppy. He lived in a very small room on the sixth floor. However, Ausable was gifted with a rare presence of mind. He was quick of action. His fertile brain could invent and cook up stories and situations that would confuse and unnerve his rivals. He cooked up the story of the balcony below the window of his room and the arrival of the police. He outwitted and outsmarted his rival and enemy secret agent, Max, who had come to take away a very important paper concerning some new missiles. Through his presence of mind, Ausable was able to get rid of his rival, Max. 

WORD-MEANINGS 

Description = written account(लिखित विवरण)  secret = mysterious(गुप्त)  agent = who works for some agency (अभिकर्ता) following = succeeding  (अनुशरण करते हुए )  musty = foul smelling(दुर्गन्ध बाला )  corridor = an open gallery  (गलियारा ) gloomy = dark (अंधकारमय ) accent = tone of voice (वोलने का लहजा) disappointed = frustrated(निराश )   romantic =imaginative(रोमांचकारी )     passably = just adequately (काम चलाऊ रूप से ) imagined = thought in mind  (कल्पना करना )   mysterious = curiously (रहस्य पूर्ण )  sloppy = unsystematic   (अव्यवस्थित ढंग से ) ordinary = simple (साधारण ) appointment = settlement (नियुक्ति )  chuckled = grinned (खिश्याया)   frustrated = disappointed  (निराश ) disillusioned = set free from false belief(भृममुक्त ) Switched on = joined electric current (बिजली चालू कर देना) thrill = sensation  (रोमांच ) automatic = moving of itself  (स्याचालित ) blinked = closed and opened the eyes  (आँखों का झपकना )  wheezed = spoke breathing, noisily and heavily   (हाँफते हुए बोलना ) slender = lean and thin  (दुबला -पतला ) except = in addition to (के अतिरिक्त)  murmured = complained in low sound (बुढ़-बूढाया) Heavily = sorrowfully (दुखी मन से)  management = governing body  (प्रवन्धक समिति )  grimly = seriously (गंभीर रूप से)  nuisance = troublesome (कस्टकारी)  curiously = with anxiety  (उत्सुकतापूर्वक ढंग से )  passkey = private key (गुप्त चावी )  explained = to clear the meaning of  (व्याख्या करना ) apartment = chamber  (कमरा)  glanced = viewed ( देखा )  explanatory = containing explanations (व्याख्यात्मक)   promised = gave assurance  (वायदा किया)  stiffly = straight  (तना हुआ) gesture = bodily movement (हाओ  भाव )  evilly = wicked   (दुस्टतापूर्वक ढंग से ) protection = safety (बचाव)  nervously = uneasily  (बेचैनी ) repeated = to do again (पुनः )  hesitate = to be doubtful  (हिचकिचाना) swiftly = quickly  (तेज़ी के साथ )  balcony = front side of a house on the roof  (छज्जा ) Twisted = distorted (ऐठना ) grasped = hold tightly (जोर से पकड़ना)  swung = to move to and fro  (झूलना) doorknob = door handle  (दरवाजे की हत्थी) screamed = cried   (चिल्लाया) shrilly = with a sharp sound  (तीव्र ध्वनि के साथ ) deftly = quickly and cleverly  (तेज़ी और चतुराई से ) uncorked = opened (खोला )  stammered = spoke with halts (हकलाकर बोला)