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It was a great relief to all when Ganymede summoned them to the presence of their late companions.

‘I have written a comment upon your inscription,’ said Minerva to Ixion, ‘and am anxious for your opinion of it.’

‘I am a wretched critic,’ said the King, breaking away from her. Juno smiled upon him in the distance.

‘Ixion,’ said Venus, as he passed by, ‘come and talk to me.’

The bold Thessalian blushed, he stammered out an unmeaning excuse, he quitted the astonished but good-natured Goddess, and seated himself by Juno, and as he seated himself his moody brow seemed suddenly illumined with brilliant light.

‘Is it so?’ said Venus.

‘Hem!’ said Minerva.

‘Ha, ha!’ said Cupid.

Jupiter played piquette with Mercury.

‘Everything goes wrong to-day,’ said the King of Heaven; ‘cards wretched, and kept waiting for dinner, and by—–a mortal!’

‘Your Majesty must not be surprised,’ said the good-natured Mercury, with whom Ixion was no favourite. ‘Your Majesty must not be very much surprised at the conduct of this creature. Considering what he is, and where he is, I am only astonished that his head is not more turned than it appears to be. A man, a thing made of mud, and in Heaven! Only think, sire! Is it not enough to inflame the brain of any child of clay? To be sure, keeping your Majesty from dinner is little short of celestial high treason. I hardly expected that, indeed. To order me about, to treat Ganymede as his own lacquey, and, in short, to command the whole household; all this might be expected from such a person in such a situation, but I confess I did think he had some little respect left for your Majesty.’

‘And he does order you about, eh?’ inquired Jove. ‘I have the spades.’

‘Oh! ’tis quite ludicrous,’ responded the son of Maia. ‘Your Majesty would not expect from me the offices that this upstart daily requires.’

‘Eternal destiny! is’t possible? That is my trick. And Ganymede, too?’

‘Oh! quite shocking, I assure you, sire,’ said the beautiful cupbearer, leaning over the chair of Jove with all the easy insolence of a privileged favourite. ‘Really, sire, if Ixion is to go on in the way he does, either he or I must quit.’

‘Is it possible?’ exclaimed Jupiter. ‘But I can believe anything of a man who keeps me waiting for dinner. Two and three make five.’

‘It is Juno that encourages him so,’ said Ganymede.

‘Does she encourage him?’ inquired Jove.

‘Everybody notices it,’ protested Ganymede.

‘It is indeed a little noticed,’ observed Mercury.

‘What business has such a fellow to speak to Juno?’ exclaimed Jove. ‘A mere mortal, a mere miserable mortal! You have the point. How I have been deceived in this fellow! Who ever could have supposed that, after all my generosity to him, he would ever have kept me waiting for dinner?’

‘He was walking with Juno,’ said Ganymede. ‘It was all a sham about their having met by accident. Cupid saw them.’

‘Ha!’ said Jupiter, turning pale; ‘you don’t say so! Repiqued, as I am a God. That is mine. Where is the Queen?’

‘Talking to Ixion, sire,’ said Mercury. ‘Oh, I beg your pardon, sire; I did not know you meant the queen of diamonds.’

‘Never mind. I am repiqued, and I have been kept waiting for dinner. Accursed be this day! Is Ixion really talking to Juno? We will not endure this.’

‘Where is Juno?’ demanded Jupiter.

‘I am sure I cannot say,’ said Venust with a smile.

‘I am sure I do not know,’ said Minerva, with a sneer.

‘Where is Ixion?’ said Cupid, laughing outright.

‘Mercury, Ganymede, find the Queen of Heaven instantly,’ thundered the Father of Gods and men.

The celestial messenger and the heavenly page flew away out of different doors. There was a terrible, an immortal silence. Sublime rage lowered on the brow of Jove like a storm upon the mountain-top. Minerva seated herself at the card-table and played at Patience. Venus and Cupid tittered in the background. Shortly returned the envoys, Mercury looking solemn, Ganymede malignant.