obey me in all things for the six months during which our contract has
to run; take, then, Griskinissa Gambouge, live alone with her for half
a year, never leave her from morning till night, obey all her
caprices, follow all her whims, and listen to all the abuse which
falls from her infernal tongue. Do this, and I ask no more of you; I
will deliver myself up at the appointed time."

Not Lord G----, when flogged by Lord B----, in the House,--not Mr.
Cartlitch, of Astley's Amphitheatre, in his most pathetic passages,
could look more crestfallen, and howl more hideously, than Diabolus
did now. "Take another year, Gambouge," screamed he; "two more--ten
more--a century; roast me on Lawrence's gridiron, boil me in holy
water, but don't ask that: don't, don't bid me live with Mrs.
Gambouge!"

Simon smiled sternly. "I have said it," he cried; "do this, or our
contract is at an end."

The Devil, at this, grinned so horribly that every drop of beer in the
house turned sour: he gnashed his teeth so frightfully that every
person in the company wellnigh fainted with the cholic. He slapped
down the great parchment upon the floor, trampled upon it madly, and
lashed it with his hoofs and his tail: at last, spreading out a mighty
pair of wings as wide as from here to Regent Street, he slapped
Gambouge with his tail over one eye, and vanished, abruptly, through
the keyhole.

* * * * *

Gambouge screamed with pain and started up. "You drunken, lazy
scoundrel!" cried a shrill and well-known voice, "you have been asleep
these two hours:" and here he received another terrific box on the
ear.

It was too true, he had fallen asleep at his work; and the beautiful
vision had been dispelled by the thumps of the tipsy Griskinissa.
Nothing remained to corroborate his story, except the bladder of lake,
and this was spirted all over his waistcoat and breeches.

"I wish," said the poor fellow, rubbing his tingling cheeks, "that
dreams were true;" and he went to work again at his portrait.

* * * * *

My last accounts of Gambouge are, that he has left the arts, and is
footman in a small family. Mrs. Gam. takes in washing; and it is said
that her continual dealings with soap-suds and hot water have been the
only things in life which have kept her from spontaneous combustion.

BON-BON

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

Quand un bon vin meuble mon estomac,
Je suis plus sava