Introduction

In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His
intention of travelling was to get a seat in the parliament re-election. He relied on one lady
named Saltpen Jago, an influential lady.
Lost the purse with crest
His companion on the train introduced himself as Bertie. The young man was about twenty
two. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago. He was searching for something frantically. But
he could not find the thing he sought. He had left his purse behind after sealing an envelope
with the crest on the purse. Often he cursed himself.
Suspicion of Sletherby
Bertie stated that it was the Jago crest. He added that his mother’s hair was dark brown
similar to his. He explained that the Saltpen crest was that of a demi lion. Sletherby pointed
out to him that his mother’s letter had a greyhound courant crest.
Critical Situation
Bertie needed three quid desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him. But Sletherby was
very cautious. He was under the suspicion of foul play. He was not ready to give money since
he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde but Bertie said that she had a dark brown hair.
Ironical situation
Sletherby was received by Claude People K.C. Sletherby came to know that Bertie’s mother
Jago had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde just five weeks ago.
Conclusion
Now only Sletherby could realize that Bertie had not lied to him. He realized that he had
mistaken him for a fraud.

SUMMARY:

1. In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards

Brill Manor.

2. His intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election.

3. He relied on one lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady.

4. His companion in the train introduced himself as Bertie.

5. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago.

6. He was searching for something frantically.

7. But he could not find out the thing he sought.

8. He had left his purse behind after sealing an envelope with the crest on the

purse.

9. He stated that it was the Jago crest.

10. He further added that his mother’s hair was dark brown similar to his.

11. He explained that the Saltpen crest was that of a demi lion.

12. Sletherby pointed out to him that his mother’s letter had a greyhound courant

crest.

13. Bertie needed three pounds desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him.

14. But Sletherby was under the suspicion of foul play.

15. He was not ready to give money since he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde.

16. Sletherby was received by Claude People K.C.

17. Sletherby came to know that Bertie’s mother Jago had changed her dark brown

hair to a blonde just five weeks ago.

18. Now only Sletherby could realize that Bertie had not lied to him.

19. He realized that he had mistaken him for a fraud.

Charcter of Philp Sletherby 

In the story A Shot in the Dark, Philip Sletherby is portrayed as a person who takes time to
analyze people. He does not allow people to get the better of him or fool him. He asks many
questions about the person with whom he is going to stay to his co-passenger who is a
stranger to him although he knows his host very well. This helps him from losing his money
to the stranger. Philip also makes it clear to the stranger that he knows the man was trying to
cheat him.

1. Answer the following questions in about 30–50 words each:

a. Why did Phililp Sletherby visit Brill Manor?

Philip Sletherby visited Brill Manor in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election.

b. How  would  Sletherby  gain  from  his friendship with Honoria Saltpen–Jago?

Honoria Saltpen –Jago was a person of some social importance in London. Sletherby could
gain a chance to contest in the re-elections because of the influence of Jago.

c. Why did his travel companion curse and mutter?

His travel companion was searching for something frantically. But he could not find out the
thing he sought. So he cursed and muttered himself.

d. Describe Bertie’s problem.

Bertie had come away without his sovereign-purse, with four quid in it, all his worldly
wealth for the moment. He was engaged in searching it.This was his problem.

e. ‘There was a tinge of coldness in his voice.’ Why?

When Bertie told of his mother, his voice became cold and he was emotional.

f. Compare the two crests.

The two crests are Jago and Saltpen. The grey hound courant is the Jago crest. The demi-lion
is the Saltpen crest. They have the right to use both the crests but Bertie prefers the usage of
demi-lion.

g. What was Sletherby’s response to Bertie’s request?

Sletherby was very grave at the request of lending three quid.

h. What caught his attention about the car door?

The door panel with the display of two crests : a grey hound courant and a demi lion holding
in its paw a cross-crosslet caught his attention.

i. Describe Honario Saltpen-Jago.

Honario Saltpen Jago was a brilliant woman, level headed and a clear thinker. She knew
exactly when to take up an individual or a cause, exactly when to let him or it drop. She was
an influential woman but spoiled herself and her chances by being too restless. She had good
appearance till she made that idiotic change.

. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of about 100–150 words each.

a) Describe the youth’s strange behaviour when he was in the train.

Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki

Theme : Misconception

In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His
intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election. He relied on one
lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady. His companion in the train introduced
himself as Bertie. The young man was about twenty two. He was the second son of Saltpen
Jago. He was searching for something frantically. But he could not find out the thing he
sought. He had left his purse behind after sealing an envelope with the crest on the purse.
Often he cursed himself.

b) One has to be cautious and not be carried away by stories. How did Sletherby exhibit
caution?
Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki

Theme : Misconception

In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His
intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re -election. He relied on one
lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady. His companion in the train introduced
himself as Bertie. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago. He was searching for something
frantically. But he could not find out the thing he sought. He had left his purse behind after
sealing an envelope with the crest on the purse. He stated that it was the Jago crest. He further
added that his mother’s hair was dark brown similar to his. He explained that the Saltpen
crest was that of a demi lion. Sletherby pointed out to him that his mother’s letter had a
greyhound courant crest. Bertie needed three quid desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it
to him. But Sletherby was very cautious. He was under the suspicion of foul play. He was not
ready to give money since he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde.

c) How did Sletherby’s judgement of Bertie turn out to be a wrong one?

Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki
Theme : Misconception
In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His
intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re -election. He relied on one
lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady. His companion in the train introduced
himself as Bertie. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago. He was searching for something
frantically. Bertie needed three quid desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him. But
Sletherby was very cautious. He was under the suspicion of foul play. He was not ready to
give money since he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde. Then Bertie alighted from the
train. Sletherby was received by Claude People K.C. Sletherby came to know that Bertie’s
mother Jago had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde just five weeks ago. Now only
Sletherby could realize that Bertie had not lied to him. He realized that he had mistaken him
for a fraud.

d) As Sletherby, would you apologise to Bertie for your rude behaviour? Give reasons.

Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki
Theme : Misconception
As Sletherby I would certainly apologise to Bertie for the rude behavior of mine.
Appearances are often deceptive. We can’t find out the real qualities of a person by seeing
him outward. Like a geode one has good qualities. It is a common saying that one should not
judge a book by its cover. We should not come to the conclusion that he is good or bad by
merely seeing a person. It is libel to judge a man or woman outwardly. First of all I express
my frank forgiveness for my wrong judgment. I also decide that in future I should not do the
same mistake. My experience is the lesson for my aeons. Hence I warn them not to behave
like me.

e) ‘Seeing is believing’. How is this humorously disproved in this story? Bring out the
irony in the situation.

Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki
Theme : Misconception
In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His
intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election. He relied on one
lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady. His companion in the train introduced
himself as Bertie. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago. He was searching for something
frantically. Bertie needed three quid desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him. But
Sletherby was very cautious. He was under the suspicion of foul play. He was not ready to
give money since he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde. Then Bertie alighted from the
train. Sletherby was received by Claude People K.C. Sletherby came to know that Bertie’s
mother Jago had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde just five weeks ago. Now only
Sletherby could realize that Bertie had not lied to him. He realized that he had mistaken him
for a fraud.