1 .Why was ‘Monaco’ called a ‘toy kingdom’?

Ans: Because it had just about seven thousand people.

2.  Name the commodities taxed in Monaco.

Ans: Tobacco, wine and spirits.

3.  What was the source of the King’s special revenue? Who were its beneficiaries?
Ans: Gaming house was the source of special revenue. Both the King and the game
keeper were the beneficiaries.

4. Why did the Germans stop gaming houses in their country and how did it benefit
Monaco?
Ans: Because the gaming houses caused more harm. Monaco was benefited as it
was the only place in Europe that allowed this game.

5. What was the punishment given to the murderer?

Ans: Death sentence / Capital Punishment / Execution

6.  The death sentence was converted into life imprisonment because

Ans: (b) Carrying out death sentence was expensive

7.  How much did the king spend on the criminal, annually?

Ans: 600 francs a year.

8. On what condition did the criminal agree to go away from the prison? Why was his
demand fulfilled?
Ans: That he would be paid his annual pension regularly. To avoid further burden
on his maintenance. 

Comprehension II

1.    Though gambling is a dirty business, why does the king of Monaco resort to
it?

OR

‘You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour’. In what context is this
statement made?
 Ans: This is from the story “Too Dear” written by Count Leo Tolstoy who is a
master of realistic fiction and widely considered one of the world’s greatest
novelists. This story is a parody of one of the modern systems of governance. The
king of Monaco ruled a tiny kingdom with a small population of about seven
thousand. In that kingdom he was a real kinglet. He had a palace, courtiers,
ministers, a bishop, generals and an army to take care of. However, he had very
limited sources of income: a tax on tobacco, wine, spirits and a poll-tax. These
sources were insufficient. So, he found a new source of special income; a gaming
house where people played roulette. This was the only place in the whole of
Europe where people would come to play. Whether they would win or lose, the
Prince gained by it. It is like, ‘You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour’. This
statement is true with reference to the context the king of Monaco lived in. He
knew it very well that gambling is a dirty business. He also understood that by
levying taxes on drink and tobacco for revenue was not a good idea. But, he had to
resort to it for the survival and sustenance of his kingdom.

2.   Why did the king of Monaco keep changing his mind in dealing with the criminal?

Ans: This is from the story “Too Dear” written by Count Leo Tolstoy who is a
master of realistic fiction and widely considered one of the world’s greatest
novelists. This story is a parody of one of the modern systems of governance.
When the criminal was sentenced to death, there was only one hitch in the matter;
they had neither a guillotine nor an executioner. The ministers then sought the
French Government for assistance. They said that they could arrange for the same
with a cost of 16000 francs. Finding the cost more expensive, the Council decided
to write a letter to the King of Italy. Though the cost quoted stood at 12000 francs,
it still seemed too much. Even the suggestion of asking one of their soldiers to
execute the criminal did not yield results. Later, it was decided to alter the death
sentence to one of imprisonment for life. The Prince agreed to this. But exactly
after a year when he looked over the account, he noticed a new item of expenditure
for the keep of the criminal. It came to more than 600 francs a year. So, they
dismissed the guard so that the criminal might run away. But this did not happen as
he remained inside. When brought before the Prince to explain why he did not run
away, he complained that they had spoilt his character by their sentence. Finally, a
Council was called and it considered offering him a pension of 600 francs to get rid
of him. Thus the matter was settled. This is how the King of Monaco kept
changing his mind dealing with the criminal.  

3.  Why was the criminal reluctant to go out of the prison?

 Ans: This is from the story “Too Dear” written by Count Leo Tolstoy who is a
master of realistic fiction and widely considered one of the world’s greatest
novelists. This story is a parody of one of the modern systems of governance. The
criminal was reluctant to go out of the prison because he had nowhere to go. He
complained that by their death sentence, they had ruined his character. He was
afraid that people would turn their backs on him. Besides, he had lost touch with
the way of working. He said he had been treated badly which was not fair. After he
was sentenced, he should have been executed. Instead, they changed it to life
imprisonment, put a guard on him and then took him away again. He had to fetch
his own food. Though he agreed to all these changes without complaining, he was
not willing to go away from prison as he thought he would be rejected by society
as a normal citizen. He would not earn any respect. So, he declined to go out of the
prison.

4.   How did the criminal lead his life after his release?

Ans: This is from the story “Too Dear” written by Count Leo Tolstoy who is a
master of realistic fiction and widely considered one of the world’s greatest
novelists. This story is a parody of one of the modern systems of governance. After
the criminal was released, he received one-third of his annuity in advance, and left
the King’s territories. He emigrated and settled just across the border where he
bought a bit of land, started market-gardening and lived comfortably. He always
went at the proper time to draw his pension. After collecting, he would go to the
gaming tables and stake two or three francs. Sometimes he would win and at times,
he would lose and return home. Thus, he lived happily.

Comprehension III

1.  Though the trial and imprisonment of the criminal is depicted in a comic mode in
this story, it does give rise to serious questions. What are they?

Ans: This is from the story “Too Dear” written by Count Leo Tolstoy who is a
master of realistic fiction and widely considered one of the world’s greatest
novelists. This story is a parody of one of the modern systems of governance.
Though the writer presents the trial and punishment of the criminal in a comic
manner, he raises very serious questions. The very method of trial is attacked: how
can the jury ignore the practical aspect of judgement while awarding death
sentence to the criminal when it does not have the required machinery and man
power? Both the crime and punishment are interlinked here to mock at society and
its legal and administrative system. For example, in the story crime takes place
because of gambling. Ironically, the tiny kingdom does not support crime, but
allows gambling. This is very true even with modern governments and with their
 law and administration. In this context, how can a criminal who is sentenced to life
imprisonment reform or face society again because of lapses in legal system?
Finally, when the story ends, the criminal after his release, leads a happy life and
often visits the gaming house. Isn’t there a possibility of the freed man turning
criminal owing to gaming again?

2.  Were there other ways of dealing with crime and the criminal? Discuss in the light
of the story?
Ans: This is from the story “Too Dear” written by Count Leo Tolstoy who is a
master of realistic fiction and widely considered one of the world’s greatest
novelists. This story is a parody of one of the modern systems of governance. The
Prince of Monaco could have dealt with crime and the criminal in other ways also.
First of all, when he found out that gaming houses were forbidden in the entire
Europe, he could very well have banned one in Monaco too. It was his risk with
the monopoly over the game. Then, when the crime took place in his domains, the
criminal was sentenced to death. Here, at this point, he could have used his wisdom
and come up with a practical solution to deal with the punishment. Life
imprisonment would have been a much better option giving an opportunity for the
criminal to reform in the process. Instead of releasing him with an assured pension,
the King could have employed him suitably.