Class-VIII

Chapter-8  The Case of the Sharp Eyed Jeweller

                                    by Nicolas Bentley

B.

1. ‘My hobby is perhaps a little out of the ordinary’. What is the narrator’s hobby? Why does he consider it ‘out of the ordinary’?

Ans. The narrator’s hobby is to study crime and criminals. He considers it ‘out of the ordinary’ because generally people don’t have such unusual hobby. This hobby demanded keen observation and use of common sense to the full. Normally hobbies don’t have such requirements.

2. Why did the narrator find the behaviour of the woman standing outside the Regnier’s strange?

Ans. The woman had been standing in front of an undertaker’s shop staring at the display window which held two urns and some photographs of gravestones. She had been standing there for about 15 to 20 minutes looking at those uninteresting things. Her interest in such things struck the narrator as very strange.

3. ‘Her arrival at the moment struck me rather strange.’ Why did the narrator find the young lady’s arrival at that point of time strange?

Ans. The lady had been standing outside the undertaker’s shop opposite the Regnier’s for about 15 to 20 minutes but she entered at the crucial moment when the ring had disappeared. Everyone was searching for the ring. That’s why the narrator felt it strange and could accept her entry as purely co-incidental.

4. Do you think the young lady had accidentally dropped the paper in which her brooch was wrapped? If not, why did she do so?

Ans. No, I don’t think the lady had accidentally dropped the paper in which her brooch was wrapped. She did it deliberately because she was the part of the well-made plan of stealing the ring from the Regnier’s. She pretended tpo drop the paper accidentally to get time to take ring from the counter where the American had stuck it with the chewing gum.

5. Where did the narrator find the ring from? How did he know it would be there?

Ans. The narrator found the ring from the left side pocket of the woman’s coat. He knew it would be there as he had noticed that the lady had put her left hand exactly where the American had put his hand just before the ring disappeared. The narrator, being a vigilant and keen observer, found out that the lady had picked up the ring from the chewing gum very neatly and put it in her coat’s pocket.

E. What impression do you form of William Morris?

Ans. William Morris is a highly observant assistant in a reputed jewellery shop. He makes full use of his common sense. Nothing escapes his sharp eyes. He considers himself a very ordinary person which reflects his honesty, humility and modesty. He has got an unusual hobby of studying crime and criminals. He is impressed by ordinary and alert detectives. He loves to watch people. With his presence of mind and observant nature, he was able to solve the case of the disappearance of the expensive flower ring.

Life Skills

A.   Why did William Morris make a sign to Miss Susskind before speaking to the American about the flower ring?

A.    

Ans. Dear Diary

Today was the worst day of my life. I have never faced such an embarrassment in my life. I and the American had planned to steal an expensive ring from the Regnier’s . Our plan was going on very well. The American had already stolen the ring and stuck it to the chewing gum under the edge of the counter. I had also been successful in taking out the ring from there. Everything was going on as planned but the vigilant assistant of the shop foiled our plan. From the beginning I was a bit scared as he was very observant and was noticing my every movement. When I was about to leave, he stopped me asked me to hand over the ring. It took me some time to realize what was happening and I quickly handed over the ring to him and ran out of the shop. I can never forget this incident and I promise that I will never steal anything in my life.

Young Lady.

B.   Imagine you are William Morris. Your common sense and keen observation enabled you to solve the case of the missing ring. Write a diary entry expressing your feelings about the whole matter.

Ans. Dear Diary

What an eventful day it was! My hobby of observing people and their behavior enabled me to prevent the theft of an expensive ring from the Regnier’s. In the morning, I noticed a young lady standing in front of the undertaker’s shop for quite a while. Then an American entered the shop to buy a ring. He had no knowledge of jewellery and judged them only by their price. I showed him three trays of rings but when I turned to take out the fourth tray, I noticed that the expensive flower ring was missing. I was sure that the American had stolen it but I had no proof. After few minutes the young lady who had been standing in front of the undertaker’s shop came in to get a cheap brooch repaired. She intentionally dropped the wrapper in which the brooch was wrapped to divert my attention. It was then I recollected all the strange things about the American and the lady and finally traced the ring. I felt really happy and satisfied.

William Morris