Ausable was always one step ahead because of his sharp presence of mind and quick thinking. When Max threatened him with a pistol, Ausable cleverly invented the story of a balcony outside his window — which did not exist — to make Max believe he could escape onto it. He also fabricated the arrival of the police, making Max panic and jump out of the window onto the "balcony." In reality, the knock was only the waiter Henry delivering drinks. Thus, Ausable used quick wit and calm composure to outsmart Max completely.
Source: The Midnight Visitor, Chapter 3
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Examiners look for two key tricks Ausable used: (1) the fake balcony story and (2) the fake police arrival. Mention that there was no real balcony, causing Max to fall. Also note Ausable's calm and composure throughout — this shows he was always one step ahead mentally. Avoid retelling the whole story; focus on how these clever moves show his superiority over Max.