'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 G.o.d, jumping out of bed and seizing his trident. 'Who is there?'

'Your pages, your faithful pages! Treason! treason! For the sake of h.e.l.l, 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 h.e.l.l!'

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

'Where is he?' said Pluto; 'what is he doing?'

'He is here, there, and everywhere! asking for your wife, and singing like anything.'

'Proserpine!' said Pluto, reproachfully; but, to do the G.o.d justice, he was more astounded than jealous.

'I am sure I shall be delighted to see him; it is so long since I have seen a live man,' said Proserpine. 'Who can he be? A man, and a live man! How delightful! It must be a messenger from my mother.'

'But how came he here?'

'Ah! how came he here?' echoed Terror.

'No time must be lost!' exclaimed Pluto, scrambling on his robe. 'Seize him, and bring him into the council chamber. My charming Proserpine, excuse me for a moment.'

'Not at all; I will accompany you.'

'But, my love, my sweetest, my own, this is business; these are affairs of state. The council chamber is not a place for you.'

'And why not?' said Proserpine. 'I have no idea of ever leaving you for a moment. Why not for me as well as for the Fates and the Furies? Am I not Queen? I have no idea of such nonsense!'

'My love!' said the deprecating husband.

'You don't go without me,' said the imperious wife, seizing his robe.

'I must,' said Pluto.

'Then you shall never return,' said Proserpine.

'Enchantress! be reasonable.'

'I never was, and I never will be,' replied the G.o.ddess.

'Treason! treason!' screamed Terror.

'My love, I must go!'

'Pluto,' said Proserpine, 'understand me once for all, I will not be contradicted.'

Rage stamped his foot.

'Proserpine, understand me once for all, it is impossible,' said the G.o.d, frowning.

'My Pluto!' said the Queen. 'Is it my Pluto who speaks thus sternly to me? Is it he who, but an hour ago, a short hour ago, died upon my bosom in transports and stifled me with kisses! Unhappy woman! wretched, miserable Proserpine! Oh! my mother! my kind, my affectionate mother!

Have I disobeyed you for this! For this have I deserted you! For this have I broken your beloved heart!' She buried her face in the crimson counterpane, and bedewed its gorgeous embroidery with her fast-flowing tears.

'Treason!' shouted Terror.

'Ha! ha! ha!' exclaimed the hysterical Proserpine.

'What am I to do?' cried Pluto. 'Proserpine, my adored, my beloved, my enchanting Proserpine, compose yourself; for my sake, compose yourself.

I love you! I adore you! You know it! oh! indeed you know it!'

The hysterics increased.

'Treason! treason!' shouted Terror.

'Hold your infernal tongue,' said Pluto. 'What do I care for treason when the Queen is in this state?' He knelt by the bedside, and tried to stop her mouth with kisses, and ever and anon whispered his pa.s.sion. 'My Proserpine, I beseech you to be calm; I will do anything you like. Come, come, then, to the council!'

The hysterics ceased; the Queen clasped him in her arms and rewarded him with a thousand embraces. Then, jumping up, she bathed her swollen eyes with a beautiful cosmetic that she and her maidens had distilled from the flowers of Enna; and, wrapping herself up in her shawl, descended with his Majesty, who was quite as much puzzled about the cause of this disturbance as when he was first roused.