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(Footprints without Feet)(Chapter - 8) (The Hack Driver), (Class - 10), Read and Find Out - I, %3, Question 1:, Why is the lawyer sent to New Mullion? What does he first think about the place?, . Answer 1:, The lawyer was a junior clerk in a magnificent law firm. We did not prepare legal briefs but his job, was to serve summons. He was sent to New Mullion to serve summons on a man names Oliver, Lutkins. Lutkins was needed as a witness in a law case. He had expected that the place would be a, sweet and simple country village but it was totally opposite to his expectations., Question 2:, Who befriends him? Where does he take him?, . Answer 2:, The lawyer was befriended bya delivery man who introduced himself as Bill. He told him the lawyer, that he knows Lutkins and the places where lutkins could be. He was ready to help the lawyer in, finding him. He took him to all the places where Lutkins was seen or was known to hang out. They, went to Fritz's shop, where Lutkins played a lot of poker; to Gustaff's barber shop and then to Gray's, barber shop where they missed a chance to catch Lutkins by five minutes; to the poolroom and, several other places before finally taking him to Oliver's mother's farm. However, they could not, find Oliver Lutkins., Question 3:, What does he say about Lutkins?, E. Answer 3:, Bill told the lawyer that Lutkins was a hard fellow to catch. He was always up to something or the, other. He owed money to many people, including Bill, and had never even paid anybody a cent. He, said that it was very difficult to make him pay the money he owes. He also said that Oliver played a, lot of poker and was good at deceiving people., Read and Find Out - II, Question 1:, What more does Bill say about Lutkins and his family?, Answer 1:, Bill told the lawyer that he knew Lutkins' mother. He said that she was a terror. He narrated an, incident where he took a trunk to her once and she almost took his skin off because he did not treat, it like a box of eggs. He told that she was about nine feet tall and four feet thick. She was very quick, as a cat and could talk a lot. He said that Oliver must have heard that somebody was chasing him, and consequently, would have gone into hiding at his mother's place., Question 2:, Does the narrator serve the summons that day?, 1

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(Footprints without Feet)(Chapter - 8) (The Hack Driver), (Class - 10), Answer 2:, No. The narrator did not serve the summons that day. In fact it was hack driver who misguided the, lawyer and led him on the wrong path., Question 3:, Who is Lutkins?, . Answer 3:, Lutkins is a middle aged person from New Mullion town. He is the prime witness in a law case., Think about it, Question 1:, When the lawyer reached New Mullion, did 'Bill' know that he was looking for Lutkins? When do, you think Bill came up with his plan for fooling the lawyer?, LAnswer 1:, Lutkins was a clever and cunning man. He did the whole act of helping the lawyer find Oliver Lutkins., This tell that he never disclosed his true identity to unknown persons. Moreover, being a cheat as, he is it seems his regular practice to dupe people who are newcomers., Question 2:, Lutkins openly takes the lawyer all over the village. How is it that no one lets out the secret? (Hint:, Notice that the hack driver asks the law, Fritz's.) Can you find other such subtle ways in which Lutkins manipulates the tour?, C. Answer 2:, Where ever place Lutkin took the lawyer he never allowed him go to the inside to interrogate about, Lutkin. It is possible that everywhere they went he went inside and told people how he was making, a fool of the lawyer. The way he weaves stories about Lutkin must have scared the lawyer., to keep out of sight behind him when, go into, Question 3:, Why do you think Lutkins' neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer?, . Answer 3:, Lutkin was with his mother on the station when the lawyer saw him. He insisted the lawyer to come, with him and have a cup of tea at his neighbour's house. He said that his neighbours were anxious, to meet a person who could be easily duped. They wanted to enjoy the lawyer's predicament., Question 4:, After his first day's experience with the hack driver the lawyer thinks of returning to New Mullion, to practise law. Do you think he would have reconsidered this idea after his second visit?, Answer 4:, After his first day's experience with the hack driver, the lawyer had considered returning to New, Mullion to practise law. He was over whelmedmy bill's hospitality. However, during his second, visithe realised that he had been literally taken for a ride by the hack driver who himself was, Lutkins. In this, Lutkins was helped by the townspeople. After becoming the source of laughter for, the town, it is most likely that the lawyer would have reconsidered his initial idea of working there., 2

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(Footprints without Feet)(Chapter - 8) (The Hack Driver), (Class - 10), Question 5:, Do you think the lawyer was gullible? How could he have avoided being taken for a ride?, C. Answer 5:, The lawyer was new to this profession and inexpert. He had yet to understand the way the world, works or functions. He could have done his homework before going to the village. He could have, taken a photograph of Lutkin if available. Before depending upon Bill he could have doubly checked, with other people as well. He could have avoided sending Bill alone to search Lutkin., Talk about it, Question 1:, Do we come across persons like Lutkins only in fiction or do we encounter them in real life as well?, You can give examples from fiction, or narrate an incident that you have read in the newspaper, or, an incident from real life., . Answer 1:, Lutkins is a character which is very common in our daily life. They are worse than robbers. Robbers, at least are not deceptive. A character like Lutkins we have often read about Charles Shobhraj. He, had such a sharp brain that he even managed to sell historical buildings. The governments of so, many countries were after him but in vain. He succeeded in his plans by making people his fans., Now a days he is in prison., In real life also I have come across a man. He seemed to be a victim of circumstances but the, way he turned me into processing sale deeds. He believed as if the business deal was about to, materialise and when all the formalities were completed, nothing came out of it. So Lutkins like, people can be found everywhere., Question 2:, Who is a 'con man', or a confidence trickster?, Answer 2:, A con man or a confidence trickster is one who can make you believe blindly. He will not even for a, moment make you budge. As we find in this story that Lutkins is a confidence trickster. He lives in, such a small village like New Mullion. Still without any marks of worry he drives the lawyer to all, kinds of places. He goes to the extent of talking him to various places and even to his mother's place., The story which he invents at once and the way he characterised Lutkins is praiseworthy. At every, moment he talks of weaknesses of Lutkins and thus makes the things sound more real., 3