question: The (BnF; ) is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is the national repository of all that is published in France.

The National Library of France traces its origin to the royal library founded at the Louvre Palace by Charles V in 1368. Charles had received a collection of manuscripts from his predecessor, John II, and transferred them to the Louvre from the Palais de la Cite. The first librarian of record was Claude Mallet, the king's valet de chambre, who made a sort of catalogue, "Inventoire des Livres du Roy nostre Seigneur estans au Chastel du Louvre". Jean Blanchet made another list in 1380 and Jean de Begue one in 1411 and another in 1424. Charles V was a patron of learning and encouraged the making and collection of books. It is known that he employed Nicholas Oresme, Raoul de Presle and others to transcribe ancient texts. At the death of Charles VI, this first collection was unilaterally bought by the English regent of France, the Duke of Bedford, who transferred it to England in 1424. It was apparently dispersed at his death in 1435.

Charles VII did little to repair the loss of these books, but the invention of printing resulted in the starting of another collection in the Louvre inherited by Louis XI in 1461. Charles VIII seized a part of the collection of the kings of Aragon. Louis XII, who had inherited the library at Blois, incorporated the latter into the "Bibliotheque du Roi" and further enriched it with the Gruthuyse collection and with plunder from Milan. Francis I transferred the collection in 1534 to Fontainebleau and merged it with his private library. During his reign, fine bindings became the craze and many of the books added by him and Henry II are masterpieces of the binder's art.
1. What's the main point?
2. Who received a collection of writings?
3. What library marks this one's origin?
4. Where's it located?
5. What is the founding year?
6. By who?
7. From where did he bring his collection?
8. Did they have a person running the place?
9. Was he originally hired for that job?
10. What job was he hired for at first?
11. What's his name?
12. What did he create?
13. Were any made thereafter?
****
answer: 1. the National Library of France the national repository of all that is published in France
2. Charles V
3. the royal library
4. the Louvre Palace
5. 1368
6. Charles V
7. the Palais de la Cite
8. yes
9. no
10. valet de chambre
11. Claude Mallet
12. a catalogue
13. yes

question: CHAPTER III

They had dinner in the open-air, tree-walled dining-room, and Saxon noted that it was Billy who paid the reckoning for the four. They knew many of the young men and women at the other tables, and greetings and fun flew back and forth. Bert was very possessive with Mary, almost roughly so, resting his hand on hers, catching and holding it, and, once, forcibly slipping off her two rings and refusing to return them for a long while. At times, when he put his arm around her waist, Mary promptly disengaged it; and at other times, with elaborate obliviousness that deceived no one, she allowed it to remain.

And Saxon, talking little but studying Billy Roberts very intently, was satisfied that there would be an utter difference in the way he would do such things... if ever he would do them. Anyway, he'd never paw a girl as Bert and lots of the other fellows did. She measured the breadth of Billy's heavy shoulders.

"Why do they call you 'Big' Bill?" she asked. "You're not so very tall."

"Nope," he agreed. "I'm only five feet eight an' three-quarters. I guess it must be my weight."

"He fights at a hundred an' eighty," Bert interjected.

"Oh, out it," Billy said quickly, a cloud-rift of displeasure showing in his eyes. "I ain't a fighter. I ain't fought in six months. I've quit it. It don't pay."

"Yon got two hundred the night you put the Frisco Slasher to the bad," Bert urged proudly.
1. What synonym for "bill" is used to describe what Billy paid?
2. What is Billy's surname?
3. What did Bert take off Mary's hand?
4. How many?
5. Did he give them back promptly?
6. What is Billy's nickname?
7. True or False: The nickname was given because he is tall.
8. How much does Bert say the fighter weighs?
9. True or False: Billy beat the Slasher in a fight.
10. Does Billy still fight?
11. Why not?
12. True or False: The group ate indoors.
13. How many diners were there?
14. Who is Bert controlling of?
15. What did he do with her waist?
16. Did the group know anyone else in the restaurant?
17. How many others, exactly?
18. True or False: Saxon spoke a lot.
19. What does Saxon think he wouldn't do as others did?
20. How much did Billy win for beating the Frisco Slasher?
****
answer: 1. "Reckoning"
2. Roberts
3. Rings.
4. Two.
5. No.
6. 'Big' Bill
7. False.
8. One hundred and eighty
9. True.
10. No.
11. It doesn't pay.
12. False.
13. Four
14. Mary.
15. He put his arm around it.
16. Yes.
17. Unknown.
18. False.
19. Paw a girl.
20. 200

question: Chapter 21: Home.

It was a long journey from Vierzon to Dijon. At Bourges Ralph had taken advantage of a delay of some hours--necessitated by the fact that no train was going--to get some suitable clothes, instead of the peasant's suit in which he had traversed the lines. He had, of course, brought his papers with him; so that he had no difficulty, whatever, in getting on by the train. But the train itself made but slow work of it. Bourbaki had passed west only the week before, with all his army, upon his march to the relief of Belfort; and the railway was completely choked. However, Ralph was not inclined to grumble at the cause of his delay; for it was only upon Bourbaki's approach that the Germans had evacuated Dijon--which was now held by Garibaldi's irregulars, and a considerable force of Mobiles.

So great were the delays that it was evening when the train reached Dijon. Ralph had scarcely stepped out on to the platform when Percy bounded upon him, and threw his arms round his neck.

"Dear, dear old Ralph! Thank God you are back again."

"My dear Percy, where did you spring from?"

"I have been home five days. I was still down at Marseilles, when I heard that Dijon was open again; and I came straight up.

"And how are you, Ralph?"

"Oh, I am getting all right again. How are they all, at home?"

"Well--quite well--but dreadfully anxious about you."

By this time the boys were out of the station, and were walking homeward.
1. was it a long trip to Dijon?
2. Where was Ralph delayed?
3. what did he do while stuck there?
4. Was he then on a fast train?
5. when did he finally reach Dijon?
6. Had he been able to make the trip earlier?
7. Who was in Dijon that prevented that?
8. Who made them leave?
9. who held the town now?
10. Who met him at the station?
11. who hugged him?
12. Had he been in town long?
13. how long had he been there?
14. where had he been?
15. where did they walk while they talked?
16. were the people there worried about Ralph?
****
answer:
1. yes
2. At Bourges
3. to get some clothes
4. No
5. in the evening
6. No
7. the Germans
8. Bourbaki's
9. Garibaldi's irregulars
10. Ralph
11. Percy
12. No
13. five days
14. Marseilles
15. homeward
16. Yes