Lecture Notes: The Midnight Visitor

Introduction

• Chapter: 3, "The Midnight Visitor"
• Genre: Detective story
• Author: Robert Arthur
• Main Characters:
  • Fowler: A young writer.
  • Ausable: A secret agent.
  • Max: Another secret agent.

Story Overview

• Fowler, a young writer, meets Ausable, a spy who does not fit his imagined image of a secret agent.
• Ausable is described as a chubby man with moderate French and German skills, speaking with an American accent.
• Despite Fowler's initial disappointment, Ausable reveals he is expecting a risky document.

Key Events

• In Ausable's room, they encounter Max holding a small automatic pistol.
• Max demands the missile-related report Ausable is expecting.
• Ausable cleverly fabricates a story about a balcony to distract Max.
• Ausable's deception involves:
  • Mentioning frequent visits by the police.
  • Suggesting Max should wait on the balcony.

Climax

• Max, believing the fabricated story, jumps out of the window, leading to his death.
• The knocking on the door was actually a waiter delivering wine, not the police.
• Ausable reveals to Fowler there was never a balcony.

Conclusion

• Ausable outsmarted Max using his quick wit, proving appearances can be deceiving.
• Successfully saved himself and Fowler from danger.
• The story highlights the importance of intelligence over appearance.

Additional Information

• Lessons Learned: It's not just about looks; intelligence matters.

Closing Remarks

• Reminder to like, subscribe, and press the bell icon for updates.
• Promotion for Byju's spoken English classes and other educational resources.
• Encouragement to enroll and check playlists for exam preparation.

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