CHAPTER XXIV. THE INTERRUPTED MASS 

The morning of that Wednesday of Corpus Christi, fateful to all concerned in this chronicle, dawned misty and grey, and the air was chilled by the wind that blew from the sea. The chapel bell tinkled out its summons, and the garrison trooped faithfully to Mass. 

Presently came Monna Valentina, followed by her ladies, her pages, and lastly, Peppe, wearing under his thin mask of piety an air of eager anxiety and unrest. Valentina was very pale, and round her eyes there were dark circles that told of sleeplessness, and as she bowed her head in prayer, her ladies observed that tears were falling on the illuminated Mass-book over which she bent. And now came Fra Domenico from the sacristy in the white chasuble that the Church ordains for the Corpus Christi feast, followed by a page in a clerkly gown of black, and the Mass commenced. 

There were absent only from the gathering Gonzaga and Fortemani, besides a sentry and the three prisoners. Francesco and his two followers. 

Gonzaga had presented himself to Valentina with the plausible tale that, as the events of which Fanfulla's letter had given them knowledge might lead Gian Maria at any moment to desperate measures, it might be well that he should reinforce the single man-at-arms patrolling the walls. Valentina, little recking now whether the castle held or fell, and still less such trifles as Gonzaga's attendance at Mass, had assented without heeding the import of what he said. 

And so, his face drawn and his body quivering with the excitement of what he was about to do, Gonzaga had repaired to the ramparts so soon as he had seen them all safely into chapel. The sentinel was that same clerkly youth Aventano, who had read to the soldiers that letter Gian Maria had sent Gonzaga. This the courtier accepted as a good omen. If a man there was among the soldiery at Roccaleone with whom he deemed that he had an account to settle, that man was Aventano.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who came to the church on Wednesday morning?
2. Who went to the church?
3. Who arrived at the church?
Q2:
1. Who was the clerk dressed in black following?
2. Who was followed into the church by a clerk?
3. What is the name of the person who was followed by a clerk?
Q3:
1. Who could be seen crying?
2. Who was crying in the church?
3. Who was crying over their Mass-book?
Q4:
1. Who observed Monna Valentina crying?
2. Who saw that Monna Valentina was crying?
3. Who in the church noticed Monna Valentina crying?
Q5:
1. Did any other people come to the church with Monna Valentina?
2. Did Monna Valentina bring more people with her?
3. Were there others that arrived with Monna Valentina?
Q6:
1. What other people were in Monna Valentina's group?
2. Monna Valentina's group had what other people?
3. Who all were in Monna Valentina's group?
Q7:
1. Who was anxious in Monna Valentina's group?
2. In Monna Valentina's group, who was anxious?
3. Who was anxious in Monna Valentina's group of people?
Q8:
1. Did Monna Valentina seem well-rested?
2. Had Monna Valentina been getting enough sleep?
3. Was Monna Valentina well-rested?
Q9:
1. Monna Valentina was told about reinforcing who?
2. Who had to be reinforced?
3. Monna Valentina was told about whose reinforcement?
Q10:
1. Who felt that reinforcing the single man-at-arms was important?
2. Who conveyed to Monna Valentina that reinforcing the single man-at-arms was required?
3. Who thought that reinforcing the single man-at-arms patrolling the wall was required?
