ifer, neither more nor less. Are your intentions really
honourable?"

"Yes," replied Lucifer, "it is to be a Lucifer match."

"The more fool you," rejoined Belial. "If you tempted her to commit a sin,
she would be yours without any conditions at all."

"Oh, Belial," said Lucifer, "I cannot bring myself to be a tempter of so
much innocence and loveliness."

And he meant what he said.

"Well then, let me try," proposed Belial.

"You?" replied Lucifer contemptuously; "do you imagine that Adeliza would
look at _you_?"

"Why not?" asked Belial, surveying himself complacently in the glass.

He was humpbacked, squinting, and lame, and his horns stood up under his
wig.

The discussion ended in a wager after which there was no retreat for
Lucifer.

The infernal Iachimo was introduced to Adeliza as a distinguished
foreigner, and was soon prosecuting his suit with all the success which
Lucifer had predicted. One thing protected while it baffled him--the
entire inability of Adeliza to understand what he meant. At length he was
constrained to make the matter clear by producing an enormous treasure,
which he offered Adeliza in exchange for the abandonment of her lover.

The tempest of indignation which ensued would have swept away any ordinary
demon, but Belial listened unmoved. When Adeliza had exhausted herself he
smilingly rallied her upon her affection for an unworthy lover, of whose
infidelity he undertook to give her proof. Frantic with jealousy, Adeliza
consented, and in a trice found herself in the infernal regions.

* * * * *

Adeliza's arrival in Pandemonium, as Belial had planned, occurred
immediately after the receipt of a message from Lucifer, in whose bosom
love had finally gained the victory, and who had telegraphed his abdication
and resignation of Madam Lucifer to Adeliza's betrothed. The poor young man
had just been hauled up from the lower depths, and was beset by legions of
demons obsequiously pressing all manner of treasures upon his acceptance.
He stared, helpless and bewildered, unable to realise his position in the
smallest degree. In the background grave and serious demons, the princes of
the infernal realm, discussed the new departure, and consulted especially
how to break it to Madam Lucifer--a commission of which no one seemed
ambitious.

"Stay where you are," whispered Belial to Adeliza; "stir not; you shall put
his constancy to the proof within five minute