By smartcubs Horace Danby is a fascinating character from the story “A Question of Trust” by Victor Canning. He is a complex individual who combines the appearance of a respectable, law-abiding citizen with the secret life of a burglar. This duality makes him an intriguing subject for analysis.
Respectable on the Surface
- Respected Locksmith: Horace Danby is a talented and well-respected locksmith. He runs a successful business and employs two assistants, earning the trust and admiration of his community.
- Normal Life: On the surface, Horace appears to be an ordinary, law-abiding citizen. He lives in a well-kept house and is considered a good and honest man by his neighbors.
Secret Life as a Thief
- Annual Heist: Despite his respectable facade, Horace harbors a secret. Once a year, he meticulously plans and executes a burglary. His primary motivation is to fund his passion for collecting rare and expensive books.
- Meticulous Planner: Horace is not a typical thief; he is a careful and methodical planner. He spends weeks studying his target, ensuring that he knows every detail before attempting the robbery. For instance, he chose Shotover Grange after weeks of surveillance, confident that the house was unoccupied and contained valuable items.
Passion for Books
- Book Lover: Horace’s love for rare books drives his criminal activities. He uses the proceeds from his annual thefts to purchase these treasures, indulging in his hobby through an agent to maintain his cover.
- Misguided Justification: He justifies his actions by convincing himself that stealing from the wealthy is not a significant crime. This moral ambiguity highlights his internal conflict and flawed reasoning.
Vulnerability and Downfall
- Easily Deceived: Despite his intelligence and careful planning, Horace is ultimately naive and vulnerable. This is evident when he is tricked by a woman posing as the lady of the house during one of his heists. She manipulates him into opening the safe for her, leading to his capture and arrest.
- Arrest and Regret: Horace’s fingerprints left at the scene lead to his arrest. He ends up serving his sentence in prison, where he becomes the assistant librarian. His experience makes him resentful of the so-called “honor among thieves,” as he feels betrayed by the woman who outwitted him.
Key Traits
- Respectable and Talented: Horace is seen as a respectable and skilled locksmith.
- Secretive: He hides his true nature and criminal activities from those around him.
- Passionate: His love for rare books drives him to commit crimes.
- Clever but Naive: While he is a meticulous planner, his naivety leads to his downfall.
- Misguided Morality: He justifies his thefts by believing they are not truly wrong.
Summary Table
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Respectable | Seen as a good and honest man by his community. |
| Talented Locksmith | Runs a successful locksmith business. |
| Secretive | Hides his annual burglaries from everyone. |
| Passionate about Books | Steals to fund his collection of rare and expensive books. |
| Clever Planner | Meticulously plans his heists. |
| Naive | Easily deceived by the woman posing as the lady of the house. |
| Misguided Morality | Justifies his thefts by thinking stealing from the rich is not very wrong. |
Horace Danby is a character full of contradictions, making him an engaging and complex figure to analyze. His story serves as a reminder of the deceptive nature of appearances and the consequences of moral compromise.