Chapter-3 The Midnight Visitor

Explanation:

Ausable was unlike other secret agents in several aspects. He lived in a small room on the top floor of a dingy French hotel, lacked linguistic proficiency in French and German, and had an American accent. Instead of receiving secret messages from beautiful women, he only got routine phone calls for appointments. Ausable dealt with Max by creating false stories and persuading Max to act on them to eliminate him permanently.

Explanation:

Fowler is a writer who came to meet Ausable. His first authentic thrill of the day occurred when he witnessed a man in Ausable's room aiming a pistol at both Ausable and him.

Explanation:

Max entered Ausable's room using a master key or passkey.

Explanation:

Ausable suggested that Max had entered his room through the balcony, claiming that it was the second time in a month that someone had entered his room this way.

Explanation:

In fiction, secret agents are often portrayed as tall, dark, and handsome men who keep beautiful women for company. They are usually physically fit and excel at executing death-defying stunts. Characters such as James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Miss Marple are some examples. In contrast, Ausable is described as being overweight, having difficulty speaking French and German, and lacking any glamorous qualities associated with secret agents. This sets him apart from the traditional image of a spy or detective.

Explanation:

Ausable creates a story that his office is part of a larger apartment and that the adjacent room has direct access to a balcony. He adds that someone else had broken into his office using the same balcony earlier, which adds credibility to his story. Ausable's calm and quick thinking under pressure also make his story seem believable.

Explanation:

It is unclear when Ausable came up with his plan to get rid of Max, but it seems likely that he improvised as events unfolded. Ausable's story about the balcony and his quick thinking when Max arrived suggest that he was not fully prepared. His ability to improvise and adapt to changing situations is a testament to his resourcefulness and intelligence.

Explanation:

The burglar made the mistake of believing Ausable’s false story about the balcony, and jumping out of the window without checking. If I were planning to steal from Ausable’s apartment, I would have taken the time to investigate and verify all details before attempting a break-in. I would have also thought about potential risks and escape routes in case of unexpected situations.

Explanation:

One example of a real-life situation where someone was not what they appeared to be is the case of Anna Chapman, a Russian spy who was living in the United States in 2010. She was arrested by the FBI along with nine other Russian agents and later deported to Russia in a prisoner exchange. Chapman had been living in the US for several years under the guise of a successful businesswoman and socialite, while secretly working for the Russian government.

Another example is that of Frank Abagnale, a former con artist and imposter who posed as a pilot, a doctor, and a lawyer among other professions. Abagnale’s story was depicted in the movie “Catch Me If You Can,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. After being caught and serving time in prison, Abagnale turned his life around and became a consultant for the FBI.

There are also many examples of people living double lives, such as those who have secret families or those who engage in criminal activities while maintaining a respectable public image. These situations show that people can be much more complex than they appear, and that we should be cautious and aware of the possibility of deception.