(Enter Imps stealthily—3 from right, and 3 from left—They look around the room and presently discover Santa. They look first toward Santa’s picture on the wall and then at Santa.)
Imp 5: This is the place.
Imp 2 (pointing to Santa): And there’s the man.
Imp 3: Methinks already half of my lord’s kingdom is mine.
Imp 4: Strike then the blow.
Imp 3 (approaches Santa, then returns): My heart fails me—Strike thou the blow.
Imp 5 (approaches Santa, then returns): Only a traitor could strike so kindly a face as his.
Imp 1: Cowards, make way—I’ll lay him low.
(Advances to Santa with hand uplifted as if to strike.)
His must be a charmed life—I can no ill do unto him.