Q3 of 9 Page 18

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?

Ausable was a clever and intelligent secret agent. When he entered his room, he found a man with a pistol in his hand. He put up a story on the spot and narrated it with such preciseness that both Max and Fowler believed him. He did this because he wanted to deceive Max. He knew that the waiter would come to his room so when the waiter knocked at the door, he threatened Max that it were the police and that they would arrest him. Ausable had told Max that he was the second person who had entered through the balcony in that month and so he was very disappointed by the management who had yet not taken any step for it. He had so precisely talked about his room earlier being a part of the adjacent one which was why the balcony extended under his window. Without noticing that there was no such balcony, Max jumped from the floor as he was afraid of being caught. Ausable's presence of mind helped him get rid of Max.

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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?)

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?

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.

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.

(i) A small fire starts in your kitchen


(ii) A child starts to choke on a piece of food.


(iii) An electrical appliance starts to hiss and gives out sparks.


(iv) A bicycle knocks down a pedestrian.


(v) It rains continuously for more than twenty-four hours.


(vi) A member of your family does not return home at the usual or expected time.