; whereat the poor soul, Sir Rollo,
would groan and roar lustily.

Now they two had come together from the gates of purgatory, being
bound to those regions of fire and flame where poor sinners fry and
roast in saecula saeculorum.

"It is hard," said the poor Sir Rollo, as they went gliding through
the clouds, "that I should thus be condemned for ever, and all for
want of a single ave."

"How, Sir Soul?" said the demon. "You were on earth so wicked, that
not one, or a million of aves, could suffice to keep from hell-flame a
creature like thee; but cheer up and be merry; thou wilt be but a
subject of our lord the Devil, as am I; and, perhaps, thou wilt be
advanced to posts of honour, as am I also:" and to show his authority,
he lashed with his tail the ribs of the wretched Rollo.

"Nevertheless, sinner as I am, one more ave would have saved me; for
my sister, who was Abbess of St. Mary of Chauchigny, did so prevail,
by her prayer and good works, for my lost and wretched soul, that
every day I felt the pains of purgatory decrease; the pitchforks
which, on my first entry, had never ceased to vex and torment my poor
carcass, were now not applied above once a week; the roasting had
ceased, the boiling had discontinued; only a certain warmth was kept
up, to remind me of my situation."

"A gentle stew," said the demon.

"Yea, truly, I was but in a stew, and all from the effects of the
prayers of my blessed sister. But yesterday, he who watched me in
purgatory told me, that yet another prayer from my sister, and my
bonds should be unloosed, and I, who am now a devil, should have been
a blessed angel."

"And the other ave?" said the demon.

"She died, sir--my sister died--death choked her in the middle of the
prayer." And hereat the wretched spirit began to weep and whine
piteously; his salt tears falling over his beard, and scalding the
tail of Mercurius the devil.

"It is, in truth, a hard case," said the demon; "but I know of no
remedy save patience, and for that you will have an excellent
opportunity in your lodgings below."

"But I have relations," said the Earl; "my kinsman Randal, who has
inherited my lands, will he not say a prayer for his uncle?"

"Thou didst hate and oppress him when living."

"It is true; but an ave is not much; his sister, my niece, Matilda--"

"You shut her in a convent, and hanged her lover."

"Had I not reason? besides, has she not others?"

"A dozen, without a doubt."

"And m