May 14, 2026

NCERT English Class 10th

Chapter 3 — The Midnight Visitor

Exercise Question Answers (Simple Words)

Oral Comprehension Check

1. How is Ausable different from other secret agents?

Ausable was very different from other secret agents. He was fat and looked ordinary. He did not look smart or athletic like movie spies. But he was very intelligent and clever.

2. Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day?

Fowler was a young writer. His first real thrill came when he saw Max standing in Ausable’s room with a pistol.

3. How has Max got in?

Max entered the room using a passkey or master key. He came to steal the important secret report.

4. How does Ausable say he got in?

Ausable says that Max entered through the balcony outside the window.

5. How does Fowler react to the sound of the doorbell? Why does he think it is the police?

Fowler becomes nervous and frightened. He thinks it is the police because Ausable says he had called the police for extra protection.

6. What does Max do on hearing the doorbell?

Max becomes afraid of being caught by the police. He jumps out of the window to escape.

Think About It

1. “Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read.” What do secret agents in books or films look like in comparison to Ausable?

Secret agents in films and books are usually handsome, slim, smart, and active. They wear stylish clothes and do dangerous actions. But Ausable was fat, simple, and ordinary-looking. He did not look like a typical spy.

2. How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room?

Ausable speaks very confidently about the balcony. He says that someone had entered his room through it earlier too. Because of his calm behavior, Max believes the story.

3. 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 probably made the plan very quickly after seeing Max in the room. He did not plan everything before. He used his intelligence and took advantage of the situation step by step.

4. In this story, Ausable shows great presence of mind. What would you have done if you were in his place?

If I were in his place, I would try to stay calm and think carefully. I would try to protect myself and call for help without making the intruder suspicious.

Important Extra Questions

1. Why was Fowler disappointed after meeting Ausable?

Fowler was disappointed because Ausable did not look like the exciting and smart secret agents shown in movies and books.

2. Why did Max come to Ausable’s room?

Max came to steal an important secret report about missiles.

3. Was there really a balcony outside the room?

No, there was no balcony outside the room. It was only a trick created by Ausable.

4. Who knocked at the door at the end of the story?

A waiter knocked at the door to bring drinks for Ausable.

5. What is the main message of the story?

The story teaches that intelligence and quick thinking are more powerful than physical strength.

Short Character Sketches

Ausable

Clever and calm secret agent
Uses intelligence to defeat enemies
Looks ordinary but is very smart

Fowler

Young writer
Curious and imaginative
Learns that real spies may look ordinary

Max

Enemy spy
Carries a pistol
Gets trapped by Ausable’s clever plan

Important Exam Points

Author: Robert Arthur
Chapter Name: The Midnight Visitor
Main Characters: Ausable, Fowler, Max
Theme: Intelligence is more powerful than strength
Setting: A hotel room in Paris at midnight