Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
DE LEVIS. Confront me with Dancy and give me fair play.
WINSOR. [Aside to CANYNGE] Is it fair to Dancy not to let him know?
CANYNGE. Our duty is to the Club now, Winsor. We must have this cleared up.
ST ERTH. Captain Dancy, a serious accusation has been made against you by this gentleman in the presence of several members of the Club.
DANCY. What is it?
ST ERTH. That you robbed him of that money at Winsor’s.
DANCY. [Hard and tense] Indeed! On what grounds is he good enough to say that?
(i) How does De Levis respond to Dancy’s last question in the extract?
(ii) How did Dancy wish to settle the matter? What was St Erth’s suggestion?
(iii) Why did Dancy’s friends wish him to take legal action against De Levis? What reasons did Dancy give for not wanting to do so?
(iv) When Mabel Dancy later requests De Levis to withdraw the charge, how does he respond? What declaration does Dancy wish De Levis to sign?
(v) What information does Gilman give to Twisden? Why did Twisden decide to
withdraw from the case?
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(i) Dancy had given the filly to De Levis because he could not afford to keep her./ Dancy has regretted his decision ever since./ Dancy was well aware that De Levis had sold the horse to Kentman and was paid cash for it, yet he denied knowing this./ He was in the next room./ He can jump like a cat./ De Levis found some creepers that had been crushed on his balcony./ When De Levis went to the bath Dancy’s door was open, and when he came back it was shut.
(ii)
- Dancy wished to settle the matter with his weapons / when and where De Levis liked.
- St. Erth suggests that they should take the matter to the Courts[file a case, take legal action] / Dancy should take legal action.
(iii)
- The matter could not be settled with weapons / Legal action will help Dancy clear his name./ It concerns the honour of the club. / The accusation was heard by many members of the club./ Unless he takes action, people will believe that Dancy is a thief.
- It was impossible for Dancy to prove that he was in the hall writing letters all the time. It is a very expensive business./ Dancy does not have the money / Dancy considers the accusation beneath contempt.
(iv)
- De Levis refuses./ He says he is not a gentleman—only a damned Jew./ Earlier he might have withdrawn the charge./ But now his race has been insulted.
- “I apologise to Captain Dancy for the reckless and monstrous charge I made against him, and I retract every word of it.’
(v)
- Gilman had received a fifty pound note from a customer./ It was one of the stolen notes./ It was brought by an Italian wine salesman named Ricardos./ Gilman went to see Ricardos. / Gilman told Ricardos that it was a stolen note./ Ricardos was taken aback./ he had wasted time in coming to the office/ He had brought Ricardos with him.
- Twisden decided to withdraw from the case when Dancy’s guilt was confirmed [found out Dancy was a thief]./ He felt it was his duty to his profession / It’s breaking faith / professional honour comes first./ it was against his professional ethics/ cannot keep Sir Frederick in the dark.