oserpine; 'but, for my part, if we
knew the truth of that affair-----'

'Is it possible that your Majesty can speak in such a tone of levity of
such an offender?' shrieked Tisiphone.

'Is it possible?' moaned Alecto.

'Ah! you have heard only one side of the question; but for my part,
knowing as much of Juno as I do-----'

'The Queen of Heaven!' observed Atropos, with an intimidating glance.

'The Queen of Fiddlestick!' said Proserpine; 'as great a flirt as ever
existed, with all her prudish looks.'

The Fates and the Furies exchanged glances of astonishment and horror.

'For my part,' continued Proserpine, 'I make it a rule to support the
weaker side, and nothing will ever persuade me that Ixion is not a
victim, and a pitiable one.'

'Well! men generally have the best of it in these affairs,' said
Lachesis, with a forced smile.

'Juno ought to be ashamed of herself,' said Proserpine. 'Had I been in
her situation, they should have tied me to a wheel first. At any rate,
they ought to have punished him in Heaven. I have no idea of those
people sending every _mauvais sujet_ to Hell.'

'But what shall we do?' inquired Pluto, who wished to turn the
conversation.

'Shall we turn out a sinner and hunt him for her Majesty's diversion?'
suggested Tisiphone, flanking her serpents.

'Nothing of the kind will ever divert me,' said Proserpine; 'for I have
no hesitation in saying that I do not at all approve of these eternal
punishments, or, indeed, of any punishment whatever.'

'The heretic!' whispered Tisiphone to Megaera. Alecto moaned.

'It might be more interesting to her Majesty,' said Atropos, 'to witness
some of those extraordinary instances of predestined misery with which
Hades abounds. Shall we visit OEdipus?'

'Poor fellow!' exclaimed Proserpine. 'For myself, I willingly confess
that torture disgusts and Destiny puzzles me.'

The Fates and the Furies all alike started.

'I do not understand this riddle of Destiny,' continued the young Queen.
'If you, Parcae, have predestined that a man should commit a crime,
it appears to me very unjust that you should afterwards call upon the
Furies to punish him for its commission.'

'But man is a free agent,' observed Lachesis, in as mild a tone as she
could command.

'Then what becomes of Destiny?' replied Proserpine.

'Destiny is eternal and irresistible,' replied Clotho. 'All is ordained;
but man is, nevertheless, master of his own actions.'

'I do not und