erstand that,' said Proserpine.

'It is not meant to be understood,' said Atropos; 'but you must
nevertheless believe it.'

'I make it a rule only to believe what I understand,' replied
Proserpine.

'It appears,' said Lachesis, with a blended glance of contempt and
vengeance, 'that your Majesty, though a goddess, is an atheist.'

'As for that, anybody may call me just what they please, provided they
do nothing else. So long as I am not tied to a wheel or whipped with
scorpions for speaking my mind, I shall be as tolerant of the speech and
acts of others as I expect them to be tolerant of mine. Come, Pluto, I
am sure that the chariot must be ready!'

So saying, her Majesty took the arm of her spouse, and with a haughty
curtsey left the apartment.

'Did you ever!' shrieked Tisiphone, as the door closed.

'No! never!' squeaked Megaera.

'Never! never!' moaned Alecto.

'She must understand what she believes, must she?' said Lachesis,
scarcely less irritated.

'I never heard such nonsense,' said Clotho.

'What next!' said Atropos.

'Disgusted with torture!' exclaimed the Furies.

'Puzzled with Destiny!' said the Fates.

It was the third morning after the Infernal Marriage; the slumbering
Proserpine reposed in the arms of the snoring Pluto. There was a loud
knocking at the chamber-door. Pluto jumped up in the middle of a dream.

'My life, what is the matter?' exclaimed Proserpine.

The knocking was repeated and increased. There was also a loud shout of
'treason, murder, and fire!'

'What is the matter?' exclaimed the god, jumping out of bed and seizing
his trident. 'Who is there?'

'Your pages, your faithful pages! Treason! treason! For the sake of
Hell, open the door. Murder, fire, treason!'

'Enter!' said Pluto, as the door was unlocked.

And Terror and Rage entered.

'You frightful things, get out of the room!' cried Proserpine.

'A moment, my angel!' said Pluto, 'a single moment. Be not alarmed, my
best love; I pray you be not alarmed. Well, imps, why am I disturbed?'

'Oh!' said Terror. Rage could not speak, but gnashed his teeth and
stamped his feet.

'O-o-o-h!' repeated Terror.

'Speak, cursed imps!' cried the enraged Pluto; and he raised his arm.

'A man! a man!' cried Terror. 'Treason, treason! a man! a man!'

'What man?' said Pluto, in a rage.

'A man, a live man, has entered Hell!'

'You don't say so?' said Proserpine; 'a man, a live man. Let me see him
immediately.'

'Where