CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

AFTER-THOUGHTS. 

"You are easily frightened, though," said Piero, with another scornful laugh. "My portrait is not as good as the original. But the old fellow _had_ a tiger look: I must go into the Duomo and see him again." 

"It is not pleasant to be laid hold of by a madman, if madman he be," said Lorenzo Tornabuoni, in polite excuse of Tito, "but perhaps he is only a ruffian. We shall hear. I think we must see if we have authority enough to stop this disturbance between our people and your countrymen," he added, addressing the Frenchman. 

They advanced toward the crowd with their swords drawn, all the quiet spectators making an escort for them. Tito went too: it was necessary that he should know what others knew about Baldassarre, and the first palsy of terror was being succeeded by the rapid devices to which mortal danger will stimulate the timid. 

The rabble of men and boys, more inclined to hoot at the soldier and torment him than to receive or inflict any serious wounds, gave way at the approach of signori with drawn swords, and the French soldier was interrogated. He and his companions had simply brought their prisoners into the city that they might beg money for their ransom: two of the prisoners were Tuscan soldiers taken in Lunigiana; the other, an elderly man, was with a party of Genoese, with whom the French foragers had come to blows near Fivizzano. He might be mad, but he was harmless. The soldier knew no more, being unable to understand a word the old man said. Tito heard so far, but he was deaf to everything else till he was specially addressed. It was Tornabuoni who spoke.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who is quick to get scared?
2. Who easily becomes afraid?
3. 
Q2:
1. What knowledge did Tito want?
2. What did Tito wish to ascertain?
3. 
Q3:
1. Who would once again enter the Duomo?
2. Who was set to reenter the Duomo?
3. 
Q4:
1. Did the group draw their weapons when advancing towards the crowd?
2. Did the group unsheath their swords as they approached the crowd?
3. 
Q5:
1. Did Tito approach the crowd with the group?
2. Did Tito advance towards the crowd?
3. 
Q6:
1. Did the crowd get out of the group's way?
2. Did the crowd of people allow the group to pass?
3. 
Q7:
1. What had the French soldier been up to prior?
2. What was the French soldier's previous business?
3. 
Q8:
1. What was the French soldier's reason for bringing prisoners to the city?
2. Why was the French soldier coming to the city with prisoners?
3. 
Q9:
1. Did it seem like the crowd was going to harm the soldier?
2. Did the crowd seem inclnied to hurt the soldier?
3. 
Q10:
1. How many prisoners did the French soldier arrive with?
2. How many people had the French soldier taken captive and brought with him?
3. 
Q11:
1. Who were the French soldier's prisoners?
2. What was the identity of the French soldier's captives?
3. 
Q12:
1. Could the elderly prisoner hurt anyone?
2. Was it possible that someone would be harmed by the elderly prisoner?
3. 
Q13:
1. Did the elderly man seem sane?
2. Did it seem as though the elderly man had his wits about him?
3. 
Q14:
1. Where was the elderly man from?
2. What were the origins of the old prisoner?
3. 
Q15:
1. Could the French soldier understand the old man's language?
2. Was the elderly prisoner's language comprehensible to the French soldier?
3. 
