Marcel and the Shakespeare Letters by Stephen Rabley: Learn English through story level 1

Summary

In this engaging detective story, Muscle, a French mouse, visits his friend Harry in London for a November holiday. When a professor's prized Shakespeare letters go missing, Muscle and Harry unravel a mystery involving secret safes, a mysterious woman, and a thrilling chase across the city. From fireworks on Guy Fawkes Night to a dramatic escape, Muscle's cleverness leads to the recovery of the letters just in time for their return to the British Museum. A perfect blend of suspense, friendship, and intrigue.

Takeaways

• 😀 Muscle is a French mouse detective who lives in Paris but visits London every November to stay with his friend Harry.
• 😀 Muscle loves both Paris and London, enjoying the architecture, culture, and landmarks of both cities.
• 😀 Muscle's adventure begins when he visits Harry's flat in London, where they discuss Professor Button and the Shakespeare letters.
• 😀 Professor Button, a very clever man, has received letters from Shakespeare to his son, which will soon be given to the British Museum.
• 😀 During their visit to Professor Button's flat, Muscle and Harry discover the letters are missing from the safe, and they find evidence of a woman who may have taken them.
• 😀 Muscle and Harry track the woman through London, eventually discovering her at a train station with the Shakespeare letters in her possession.
• 😀 The two mice, using clever tactics, steal the letters back from the woman at the train station without getting caught.
• 😀 After evading capture, Muscle and Harry return the Shakespeare letters to Professor Button, who is confused about how they ended up in his safe.
• 😀 The next morning, Muscle and Harry accompany Professor Button to the British Museum, where the letters are handed over for safe-keeping.
• 😀 Throughout the adventure, Muscle demonstrates his keen detective skills, problem-solving abilities, and determination to solve the mystery of the missing letters.

Q & A

What is the setting of the story?

The story is set in two main locations: Paris, where Muscle the detective lives, and London, where he visits his old friend Harry. The action also takes place in various locations in London, including Professor Button's flat and the British Museum.

Who is Muscle and what is his profession?

Muscle is a French mouse who works as a detective. He is intelligent, observant, and enjoys solving mysteries, such as the one involving the Shakespeare letters in the story.

What is the significance of the Shakespeare letters in the story?

The Shakespeare letters are a collection of letters from William Shakespeare to his son. They are an important historical artifact, and Professor Button is tasked with handing them over to the British Museum.

How does Muscle find out that the Shakespeare letters are missing?

Muscle and Harry discover that the letters are missing when they open Professor Button's safe. Despite the safe being unlocked, the letters are not inside, and there is a hole at the back of the safe, indicating that someone has taken them.

What is the role of Professor Button in the story?

Professor Button is a scholarly character who has found the Shakespeare letters. He plans to hand them over to the British Museum, but he becomes involved in the mystery when the letters go missing from his safe.

What do Muscle and Harry do when they realize the letters are gone?

Muscle and Harry investigate further and follow clues that lead them to a woman in a red dress who has the letters. They chase after her and manage to retrieve the letters before she can escape.

What happens at the train station when Muscle and Harry are pursuing the woman?

Muscle and Harry board a train to track the woman, but they face several challenges, including the woman noticing their presence. They manage to escape by running under the legs of a man and evade capture.

How do Muscle and Harry manage to retrieve the Shakespeare letters?

Muscle uses his detective skills to find the woman at an airport and secretly retrieves the Shakespeare letters from her bag while she is distracted. They quickly escape with the letters and return to safety.

How does Professor Button react when he sees the Shakespeare letters on the table?

When Professor Button arrives at his flat and sees the letters on the table, he is confused and puzzled. He does not understand how the letters ended up there, as the safe was supposed to keep them secure.

What is the significance of the British Museum in the story?

The British Museum is where the Shakespeare letters are meant to be delivered. It is the final destination for the letters, and it is here that Professor Button hands them over to the museum representative, ensuring their safekeeping for historical purposes.