'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 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 god 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 

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