ose 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 realize 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 minutes."

Not all the hustling, mowing, and gibbering of the fiends would under
ordinary circumstances have kept Adeliza from her lover's side: but
what is all hell to jealousy?

In even less time than he had promised, Belial returned, accompanied
by Madam Lucifer. This lady's black robe, dripping with blood,
contrasted agreeably with her complexion of sulphurous yellow; the
absence of hair was compensated by the exceptional length of her
nails; she was a thousand million years old, and, but for her
remarkable muscular vigour, looked every one of them. The rage into
which Belial's communication had thrown her was something
indescribable; but, as her eye fell on the handsome youth, a different
order of thoughts seemed to take possession of her mind.

"Let the monster go!" she exclaimed; "who cares? Come, my love, ascend
the throne with me, and share the empire and the treasures of thy fond
Luciferetta."

"If you don't, back you go," interjected Belial.

What might have been the young man's decision if Madam Lucifer had
borne more resemblance to Madam Vulcan, it would be wholly impertinent
to inquire, for the question never arose.

"Take me away!" he screamed, "take me away, anywhere! anywhere out of
her reach! Oh, Adeliza!"

With a bound Adeliza stood by his side. She was darting a triumphant
glance at the discomfited Queen of Hell, when suddenly her expression
changed, and she sc