‘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’?

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

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

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

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

William Morris noticed certain about the American and the young lady that put them under suspicion and finally helped him in solving the mystery of the missing ring. Complete the web chart below by filling in the blurbs the observations that the narrator made about the two.

                                                                                                                        She seemed to be right -
                                                                                                                        handed but used her left
                                                                                                                        hand to take out the brooch.


He did not know anything
about jewellery.

On the basis of your reading of the story, complete the flow chart by filling in the correct sequence of events.
                                                        Morris observes a young
                                                        woman standing in front
                                                        of the undertaker’s.

                                                        An American customer asks
                                                        for rings.


                                                        Mr Regnier takes the American
                                                        to his office.


                                                        To lady ‘accidentally’ drops the
                                                        paper in which her brooch was
                                                        wrapped.




                                                        Mr Regnier and the American come
                                                        out of the former’s office.

                                                        Morris given the ring back to
                                                        Mr Regnier.

What impression do you form of William Morris? (About 80 words)

‘Intelligence is using common sense to the full.’ Discuss with reference to the story.

‘But she was not wearing black or any other sign of mourning.’

1. Why is ‘black’ considered to be a sign of mourning?

2. Why do you think some people wear ‘white’ also for the same reason?

3. Should colour be given more importance or heartfelt feelings?

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

Why was it important to conduct a thorough search on the American before reporting the matter to the Insurance Company?

Why were the American and his accomplice not handed over to the police?

Miss Susskind is mostly seen to be calm and composed throughout the story. She does not react impulsively. Do you think she is right in doing so? Why/Why not?

Imagine yourself to be the young lady. Write a diary entry relating how the jeweller’s vigilant assistant foiled your well-made plan to steal the ring.

Imagine you are Mr. Regnier. Write a letter to your friend describing how William Morris successfully foiled the well-made plan to steal the ring. Also, write how you will reward him for his presence of mind.

Where did the narrator guess the ring would be? How?

Which ring did the American choose? Why was it very expensive?

I noticed that he had stopped chewing his gum. Now, you can't swallow chewing gum. We haven't got a waste-paper basket here, and, in any case; he hadn't moved an inch from where he was standing. He must have put the gum somewhere well within his reach, Where?

a. What did the narrator notice?
b. Where had the American put the chewing gum? How did the narrator guess it would be there?
c. What had the American pressed along with the gum?