"This body's messy with virtue," he said. "I think I'll switch back for a moment. After all, I don't have any argument with you and your wife, and we did have fun, years ago. The memory of it is rather pleasant."
"To you, perhaps," said Dad, "but not to me, I've put all that behind me, and if I had it to do over again...."
"I know," said the young man, getting to his feet. "Women are always reforming men, and ruining them for my purposes. But that's past now, and I lost that game. Right now I've got a grudge to settle."
Pearl's mother uttered a low moan and rushed over and huddled close to her husband. He put a protective arm around her shoulder.
The Devil turned to Joe. "What makes you think I intend killing you both?" he asked. "That's crude, and what would I stand to gain? You're both going to die some day, anyway, and in your present condition, I won't have any chance at you afterward. So, does it make sense that I'd let you slip out of my clutches that way?"
Joe looked at him. "I guess I see your point," he agreed. "But what are you going to do?"
The Devil grinned. "How would you like to be married to me?" he asked.
"Don't be queer!" snapped Joe.
"I mean to this body I'm wearing now?" asked the Devil.