Peasant lies down to rest, makes the sign of the cross, yawns, and falls asleep. IMP [comes out from behind the bush] It's all very well for the boss to talk. The boss keeps on saying, "You don't bring enough peasants to Hell! See what a lot of tradesmen, gentlefolk, and all sorts of people flock in every day, and how few peasants!" Now, how's one to get round this one? There's no way of getting hold of him. Haven't I stolen his last crust? What can I do better than that? And yet he didn't swear. I'm at my wits' end what to do! Well, I must go and report! Disappears into the ground. Curtain. ACT II Hell. The Chief of the Devils sits in the highest place. The Devil's Secretary sits lower down, at a table with writing materials. Sentinels stand at each side. To the right are five Imps of different kinds. To the left, by the door, the Doorkeeper. A dandified Imp stands before the Chief. THE DANDY IMP. The whole of my booty for the three years has been 220,005 men. They're all in my power now. THE CHIEF. All right. Thank you. Pass on. The Dandy Imp goes to the right. THE CHIEF [to the Secretary] I'm tired! Is there much business left? Whose reports have we had, and whose are still to come? THE SECRETARY [counts on his fingers and, as he counts, points to the Imps to the right. When he mentions any Imp, the one referred to bows] We've had the Gentlefolks' Devil's report. He's captured 1836 in all. And the Tradesmen's Devil's with 9643. From the Lawyers', 3423. The Women's we've also just had: 186,315 married women, and 17,438 maids. Only two Devils are left, the Officials' and the Peasants'. There are altogether 220,005 souls on the list. CHIEF. Well then, we'd better finish it all to-day. [To the Doorkeeper] Let them in! The Officials' Devil enters, and bows to the Chief. CHIEF. Well, how have you got on? OFFICIALS' IMP [laughing, and rubbing his hands] My affairs are all right, just as soot they are white! The booty is such that I don't remember anything like it since the creation of the world. CHIEF. What, have you captured a great many? OFFICIALS' IMP. It's not so much the quantity. Only 1350 men in all, but such splendid fellows! Such fellows, they might shame any Devil! They can embroil people better than we ourselves can. I've introduced a new fashion among them. CHIEF. What's that new fashion? OFFICIALS' IMP. Why, in former times lawyers were in attendance on the judges and deceived people. Now, I've arranged for them to do business also apart from the judges. Whoever pays most, is the one to whose business they attend. And they'll take such trouble over it that they'll make out a case where there is none! They and the officials between them embroil people far better than we Devils can. CHIEF. All right. I'll have a look at them. You may pass on. The Officials' Imp goes to the right. CHIEF [to Doorkeeper] Let in the last one.