than the
cat in the kitchen, and yet she is interested already. Happy Ariel!"

Ariel looked at me again, in the double intoxication of the wine and the
triumph.

"I know no more than the cat in the kitchen," she repeated, with a broad
grin of gratified vanity. "I am 'happy Ariel!' What are you?"

Miserrimus Dexter laughed uproariously.

"Didn't I tell you?" he said. "Isn't she fun?--Persons of the Drama."
he resumed: "three in number. Women only. Angelica, a noble lady; noble
alike in spirit and in birth. Cunegonda, a beautiful devil in woman's
form. Damoride, her unfortunate maid. First scene: a dark vaulted
chamber in a castle. Time, evening. The owls are hooting in the wood;
the frogs are croaking in the marsh.--Look at Ariel! Her flesh creeps;
she shudders audibly. Admirable Ariel!"

My rival in the Master's favor eyed me defiantly. "Admirable Ariel!"
she repeated, in drowsy accents. Miserrimus Dexter paused to take up
his goblet of Burgundy--placed close at hand on a little sliding table
attached to his chair. I watched him narrowly as he sipped the wine. The
flush was still mounting in his face; the light was still brightening
in his eyes. He set down his glass again, with a jovial smack of his
lips--and went on:

"Persons present in the vaulted chamber: Cunegonda and Damoride.
Cunegonda speaks. 'Damoride!' 'Madam?' 'Who lies ill in the chamber
above us?' 'Madam, the noble lady Angelica.' (A pause. Cunegonda speaks
again.) 'Damoride!' 'Madam?' 'How does Angelica like you?' 'Madam, the
noble lady, sweet and good to all who approach her, is sweet and good to
me.' 'Have you attended on her, Damoride?' 'Sometimes, madam, when the
nurse was weary.' 'Has she taken her healing medicine from your hand.'
'Once or twice, madam, when I happened to be by.' 'Damoride, take this
key and open the casket on the table there.' (Damoride obeys.) 'Do
you see a green vial in the casket?' 'I see it, madam.' 'Take it out.'
(Damoride obeys.) 'Do you see a liquid in the green vial? can you
guess what it is?' 'No, madam.' 'Shall I tell you?' (Damoride bows
respectfully ) 'Poison is in the vial.' (Damoride starts; she shrinks
from the poison; she would fain put it aside. Her mistress signs to her
to keep it in her hand; her mistress speaks.) 'Damoride, I have told you
one of my secrets; shall I tell you another?' (Damoride waits, fearing
what is to come. Her mistress speaks.) 'I hate the Lady Angelica. Her
life stands between me and