"You have firmly decided?"
"Irrevocably."
"Once, twice, ... reflect! You have just acknowledged that you still love the laughing Matheline."
"And that I hate her.... Yes, ... it is so.... But in eternity I wish to be with my dear mother, Josserande."
"Were there no mothers," growled Satan, "I could play my game much better in the world!"
And he added,—
"For the third time, ... adjudged!"
The heap of gold became as turbulent as the water of a cascade, and leaped and sang; the millions of little sonorous coins clashed against each other, and then all was silent and they vanished.
The room appeared as black as a place where there had been a fire; nothing could be seen but the lurid gleam of Satan's iron body. Then said Sylvestre Ker,—
"Since all is ended, retire!"