THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR

THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR_ROBERT ARTHUR

AUSABLE did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever

read. Following him down the musty corridor of the gloomy French

hotel where Ausable had a room, Fowler felt let down. It was a

small room, on the sixth and top floor, and scarcely a setting for a

romantic adventure.

What leads Fowler doubt over Ausable’s being a secret agent?

Why does Fowler feel like let down?

What does Fowler notice about Ausable’s stay?

Ausable was, for one thing, fat. Very fat. And then there was his

accent. Though he spoke French and German passably, he had never

altogether lost the American accent he had brought to Paris from Boston

twenty years ago.

Sketch the character of Ausable.

Find similar word for ‘adequately’.

What does he state about his language?

Where had he been for 20 years?

“You are disappointed,” Ausable said wheezily over his shoulder.

“You were told that I was a secret agent, a spy, dealing in espionage

and danger. You wished to meet me because you are a writer, young

and romantic. You envisioned mysterious figures in the night, the crack

of pistols, drugs in the wine.”

Find similar word for ‘breathing heavily’

Find similar word for ‘spying’.

Find similar word for ‘foresee’.

Why is Fowler disappointed?

Why does he suspect over Ausable’s ability and identity as a spy?

“Instead, you have spent a dull evening in a French music hall

with a sloppy fat man who, instead of having messages slipped into

his hand by dark-eyed beauties, gets only a prosaic telephone call

making an appointment in his room. You have been bored!” The fat

man chuckled to himself as he unlocked the door of his room and

stood aside to let his frustrated guest enter.

Find similar word for ‘slapdash’.

What is dark-eyed beauty?

What was Fowler’s expectation of from Ausable?

According to you, what is important ones ability in the field of work or an impressive personality?

“You are disillusioned,” Ausable told him. “But take cheer, my young

friend. Presently you will see a paper, a quite important paper for

which several men and women have risked their lives, come to me.

Some day soon that paper may well affect the course of history.

Who was Fowler by profession?

Why had Fowler been following Ausable?

In that thought is drama, is there not?”

As he spoke, Ausable closed the door behind him. Then he switched

on the light. And as the light came on, Fowler had his first authentic thrill of

the day. For halfway across the room, a small automatic pistol in his

hand, stood a man. Ausable blinked a few times.

“Max,” he wheezed, “you gave me quite a start. I thought you were

in Berlin. What are you doing here in my room?”

What was Fowler’s first authentic thrill of the day?

Max was slender, a little less than tall, with features that suggested

slightly the crafty, pointed countenance of a fox. There was about him —

aside from the gun — nothing especially menacing.

“The report,” he murmured. “The report that is being brought to

you tonight concerning some new missiles. I thought I would take it

from you. It will be safer in my hands than in yours.”

 

Sketch the character of Max?

Who was Max?

Find similar word for ‘expression’.

Find similar word for ‘intimidating’.

Why had Max come over there?

What important information Ausable possesses?

Ausable moved to an armchair and sat down heavily. “I’m going to

raise the devil with the management this time, and you can bet on it,”

he said grimly. “This is the second time in a month that somebody has

got into my room through that nuisance of a balcony!” Fowler’s eyes

went to the single window of the room. It was an ordinary window,

against which now the night was pressing blackly.

“Balcony?” Max said, with a rising inflection. “No, a passkey. I did

not know about the balcony. It might have saved me some trouble

had I known.”

What was the problem of the balcony to Ausable?

Find similar word for ‘modulation’.

How have Max saved some trouble?

“It’s not my balcony,” Ausable said with extreme irritation. “It belongs

to the next apartment.” He glanced explanatorily at Fowler. “You see,”

he said, “this room used to be part of a large unit, and the next room —

through that door there — used to be the living room. It had the balcony,

which extends under my window now. You can get onto it from the

empty room two doors down — and somebody did, last month. The

management promised to block it off. But they haven’t.”

Find similar word for ‘expounding’.

What is the history of the existence of the balcony?

What does the management promise him? Did they?

Max glanced at Fowler, who was standing stiffly not far from Ausable,

and waved the gun with a commanding gesture. “Please sit down,” he

said. “We have a wait of half an hour, I think.”

“Thirty-one minutes,” Ausable said moodily. “The appointment was

for twelve-thirty. I wish I knew how you learned about the report, Max.”

The little spy smiled evilly. “And we wish we knew how your people

got the report. But no harm has been done. I will get it back tonight.

Find similar word for ‘awkwardly/ labouriously’.

Which 12:30 appointment Ausable talks about?

What is that? Who is at the door?”

Fowler jumped at the sudden knocking at the door. Ausable just

smiled. “That will be the police,” he said. “I thought that such an

important paper as the one we are waiting for should have a little

extra protection. I told them to check on me to make sure everything

was all right.”

Who according to Ausable  knocking at the door?

Why according to Ausable the police have come there?

Max bit his lip nervously. The knocking was repeated.

“What will you do now, Max?” Ausable asked. “If I do not answer the

door, they will enter anyway. The door is unlocked. And they will not

hesitate to shoot.”

Max’s face was black with anger as he backed swiftly towards the

window. He swung a leg over the sill. “Send them away!” he warned. “I

will wait on the balcony. Send them away or I’ll shoot and take my

chances!”

The knocking at the door became louder and a voice was raised.

“Mr Ausable! Mr Ausable!”

Why had Max bit his lip nervously?

Find similar word for ‘projection/ridge/ledge’.

What stance did Max take? Why had he moved towards the window?

Keeping his body twisted so that his gun still covered the fat man

and his guest, the man at the window grasped the frame with his free

hand to support himself. Then he swung his other leg up and over the

window-sill.

The doorknob turned. Swiftly Max pushed with his left hand to free

himself from the sill and drop to the balcony. And then, as he dropped,

he screamed once, shrilly. (Penetratingly)

What did Max do to go away?

Why did he scream shrilly?

The door opened and a waiter stood there with a tray, a bottle and

two glasses. “Here is the drink you ordered for when you returned,” he

said, and set the tray on the table, deftly uncorked the bottle, and left

the room.

White-faced, Fowler stared after him. “But...” he stammered, “the

police...”

“There were no police.” Ausable sighed. “Only Henry, whom I was

expecting.”

“But won’t that man out on the balcony…?” Fowler began.

“No,” said Ausable, “he won’t return. You see, my young friend,

there is no balcony.”

Were the police there at the door or someone else?

Who came in and did he bring?

Find similar word for ‘skillfully/dexterously/adeptly’.

Why was Fowler white faced?

Why did Ausable say that Max won’t return?

Was there balcony existing?

What is the significance of the balcony in the story?

What does this incident tell us about Ausable’s proficiency, expertise in his job?

What are the MUST qualities one should have to handle apparently grueling situations?