CHAPTER SEVEN. 

A LEARNED SQUABBLE. 

Bartolommeo Scala, secretary of the Florentine Republic, on whom Tito Melema had been thus led to anchor his hopes, lived in a handsome palace close to the Porta Pinti, now known as the Casa Gherardesca. His arms-- an azure ladder transverse on a golden field, with the motto _Gradatim_ placed over the entrance--told all comers that the miller's son held his ascent to honours by his own efforts a fact to be proclaimed without wincing. The secretary was a vain and pompous man, but he was also an honest one: he was sincerely convinced of his own merit, and could see no reason for feigning. The topmost round of his azure ladder had been reached by this time: he had held his secretaryship these twenty years-- had long since made his orations on the _ringhiera_, or platform of the Old Palace, as the custom was, in the presence of princely visitors, while Marzocco, the republican lion, wore his gold crown on the occasion, and all the people cried, "Viva Messer Bartolommeo!"--had been on an embassy to Rome, and had there been made titular Senator, Apostolical Secretary, Knight of the Golden Spur; and had, eight years ago, been Gonfaloniere--last goal of the Florentine citizen's ambition. Meantime he had got richer and richer, and more and more gouty, after the manner of successful mortality; and the Knight of the Golden Spur had often to sit with helpless cushioned heel under the handsome loggia he had built for himself, overlooking the spacious gardens and lawn at the back of his palace.  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Was the secretary of the Florentine Republic a humble man?
2. Was the secretary of the Florentine Republic known as a down-to-earth man?
3. Was Bartolommeo Scala a humble person?
Q2:
1. What kind of a person was the secretary of the Florentine Republic?
2. Bartolommeo Scala was known as what kind of person?
3. What kind of a man did people see Bartolommeo Scala, the secretary of the Florentine Republic as?
Q3:
1. Was the secretary of the Florentine Republic's palace ugly?
2. Did Bartolommeo Scala have an unattractive palace?
3. Was the palace where the secretary of the Florentine Republic lived in ugly?
Q4:
1. What was the name of the secretary of the Florentine Republic's palace?
2. What did Bartolommeo Scala name his palace?
3. What was Bartolommeo Scala's palace called?
Q5:
1. What did Bartolommeo Scala's parent do for a living?
2. What did the secretary of the Florentine Republic's parent do for a living?
3. What was Bartolommeo Scala's father's profession?
Q6:
1. How did Bartolommeo Scala become successful?
2. How did Bartolommeo Scala eventually go on to become the secretary of the Florentine Republic?
3. How did the secretary of the Florentine Republic get to where he is right now?
Q7:
1. Was Bartolommeo Scala proud of his achievement?
2. Was the secretary of the Florentine Republic proud of his achievement?
3. 
Q8:
1. What medical issue did Bartolommeo Scala have?
2. The secretary of the Florentine Republic had what medical problem?
3. What disease did the secretary of the Florentine Republic have?
Q9:
1. What part of Bartolommeo Scala did his gout affect?
2. What body part of the Florentine Republic's secretary was affected by gout?
3. Gout affected what part of Bartolommeo Scala's body?
Q10:
1. What color was the ladder placed at Bartolommeo Scala's palace entrance?
2. The secretary of the Florentine Republic's arms had a ladder of what color?
3. Bartolommeo Scala's palace entrance featured his arms that depicted a ladder of what color?
Q11:
1. What did it say on Bartolommeo Scala's arms' ladder?
2. The secretary of the Florentine Republic's arms had what inscribed on the ladder?
3. 
Q12:
1. Did Bartolommeo Scala refrain from bragging baout his success?
2. Did the secretary of the Florentine Republic hold back from boasting about his success?
3. Was Bartolommeo Scala modest about his achievements?
Q13:
1. How long had Bartolommeo Scala been the appointed secretary for the Florentine Republic?
2. For how long had the secretary of the Florentine Republic been in office?
3. Bartolommeo Scala had been Florentine Republic's secretary for how many years?
