1
Why was Fowler disappointed with Ausable initially? 3marks
2
Describe the physical appearance of Ausable as depicted in the story. 2marks
3
"You are disillusioned," Ausable told him. "But take cheer, my young friend. Presently you will see a paper..." Explain the significance of Ausable's statement to Fowler. 3marks
4
Contrast the real Ausable with the kind of secret agent Fowler had expected. 3marks
5
Who was Max and what was his immediate objective upon entering Ausable's room? 2marks
6
How did Max gain entry into Ausable's room, according to Ausable's initial explanation? 2marks
7
Explain the concept of "presence of mind" using Ausable's actions in the story as an example. 3marks
8
Describe the setting of Ausable's hotel room and how it contributed to Fowler's disappointment. 3marks
9
Ausable claimed he would "raise the devil with the management." What was he referring to, and why? 3marks
10
"This is the second time in a month that somebody has got into my room through that nuisance of a balcony!" How does this statement by Ausable serve his purpose? 3marks
11
What was the 'prosaic telephone call' that Ausable mentioned to Fowler, and why was it significant? 3marks
12
How did Ausable cleverly use the knocking at the door to his advantage? 3marks
13
Analyze Ausable's strategy in dealing with Max. Was it based on bravery, intelligence, or deception? Justify your answer. 5marks
14
"Ausable blinked a few times." What does this reaction reveal about Ausable's immediate thoughts upon seeing Max? 2marks
15
Describe the contrasting personalities of Ausable and Max as portrayed in the story. 3marks
16
"The report, the report that is being brought to you tonight concerning some new missiles. I thought I would take it from you." What does this dialogue reveal about Max's motivation? 2marks
17
How did Ausable manipulate Max's fear of the police to achieve his goal? 3marks
18
Consider the statement: "Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read." Elaborate on how Ausable’s character challenges conventional stereotypes of spies. 5marks
19
What was the actual purpose of the waiter's visit, and how did this confirm Ausable's control over the situation? 3marks
20
"Max swung a leg over the sill." What action did Max take, and what was the immediate consequence of his decision? 2marks
Answers
1
Fowler was initially disappointed with Ausable because Ausable did not match the typical image of a secret agent that Fowler had read about in books and seen in films. Ausable was described as fat, spoke with an American accent, and his room was in a gloomy hotel, lacking the romantic adventure Fowler expected.
2
Ausable was described as "fat. Very fat." He also had a noticeable American accent that he had not lost despite living in Paris for twenty years.
3
Ausable's statement to Fowler, "But take cheer, my young friend. Presently you will see a paper, a quite important paper...," is significant because it attempts to shift Fowler's focus from the mundane reality to the underlying drama and importance of Ausable's work. It highlights the potential historical impact of the report they are waiting for, thereby injecting excitement into the situation.
4
Fowler expected secret agents to be mysterious, lean figures involved in thrilling espionage with pistols firing and clandestine meetings. In contrast, Ausable was fat, spoke with a common accent, and his room was ordinary, far from the romantic adventure Fowler envisioned.
5
Max was another secret agent. His immediate objective was to obtain the important report concerning new missiles that was expected to be delivered to Ausable that night, believing it would be safer in his hands.
6
According to Ausable's initial explanation, Max had gained entry into his room through a balcony that was attached to the adjacent apartment and accessible from a room two doors down.
7
Ausable demonstrates remarkable "presence of mind" by quickly fabricating a believable story about a balcony and the imminent arrival of the police to outsmart Max. He thinks on his feet and uses the situation to his advantage, remaining calm and decisive in a dangerous moment.
8
Ausable's room was small, located on the sixth and top floor of a gloomy French hotel. The musty corridors and the unromantic setting contributed to Fowler's feeling of being let down, as it did not align with his expectations of a secret agent's environment.
9
Ausable was referring to the fact that someone had previously entered his room through the balcony. He expressed his intention to complain strongly to the hotel management about their failure to secure the room, as this had allowed Max to enter.
10
This statement by Ausable serves to establish the supposed ease with which intruders can access his room via the balcony. It creates a plausible reason for Max's presence and primes Max to believe Ausable's subsequent fabrication about the balcony.
11
The "prosaic telephone call" was Ausable's excuse to Fowler for receiving a non-dramatic part of his job – a simple appointment being made. It contrasts with Fowler's expectation of exciting, clandestine communication, thereby reinforcing the idea that Ausable's life was not as romantic as expected.
12
Ausable cleverly used the knocking at the door by pretending it was the police, a detail he claimed to have arranged for extra protection. This fabricated threat of the police caused Max to panic.
13
Ausable's strategy was primarily based on intelligence and deception, rather than bravery or brute force. He used his sharp intellect to create a false narrative and manipulate Max's fears, leading Max to believe the balcony was real and the police were at the door, thus forcing Max to flee through a non-existent exit.
14
This reaction suggests Ausable was momentarily surprised by Max's unexpected appearance and the presence of a gun, but quickly regained his composure, indicating his underlying shrewdness.
15
Ausable is portrayed as an intelligent, resourceful, and cunning individual who is physically described as plump and speaks with an American accent. Max, on the other hand, is depicted as slender, fox-like in his cunning, and armed, but ultimately less intelligent and more prone to panic than Ausable.
16
This dialogue reveals Max's primary motivation: to intercept and seize the crucial report about new missiles. It shows his ruthless nature and his belief that he could effectively acquire the report.
17
Ausable created the illusion of police presence by orchestrating a knocking at the door and claiming he had alerted the police for protection. This made Max believe his capture was imminent, prompting him to escape through the window, which Ausable claimed led to a balcony.
18
Ausable defies typical spy stereotypes by being physically unassuming – fat, with a slight accent, and living in ordinary surroundings. Fowler's initial disappointment highlights this contrast. However, Ausable's true strength lies not in physical prowess or a mysterious aura, but in his sharp intellect, quick thinking, and mastery of deception, which allow him to outwit a more conventionally threatening opponent like Max.
19
The waiter's visit was not a police check, as Max feared, but a delivery of the drink Ausable had ordered. This confirmed Ausable's control over the situation and highlighted the success of his fabricated police story, as Max fell for the deception and fled.
20
Max attempted to escape by swinging his leg over the window sill to drop onto the supposed balcony. The immediate consequence was that, upon dropping, he screamed once, shrilly, indicating he fell to his death as there was no balcony.
