"No. I never had. The whole thing is an ecclesiastical calumny."
"A what?"
"A dirty lie."
"You should talk!" exclaimed Joe.
"You don't seem to question my identity," observed the creature.
"Most people think the devil is human. Merely a case of identifying
themselves with a superior being, I assure you."
"If you're so superior, what are you doing in my basement?"
"I came down here to direct a crime wave--the most ambitious I've
attempted in years. This is a very corrupt town, you know."
"How right you are," agreed Joe. "But why from _my_ basement?"
"What better place than the home of a private detective? I always like
to have the law on my side, and it usually is."
"What makes you think I'd be on your side?"
* * * * *
The Devil grinned. Joe almost dropped his gun. It was hardly a face
adaptable to grinning. The resulting grimace was only recognizable as
such with the aid of a sort of sixth sense. The intended humor came
through, but the physical aspect was soul-shaking.
"Ever hear of possession?" he asked.
Joe stiffened, gripped his gun tighter. "Don't make a move!" he warned.
"I won't need to," the Devil assured him. "I do it all with hypnotism.
In a few minutes you will walk back up those stairs, just as you came
down them, and tell your wife what she heard was only a cat, and
that you put it out. She won't suspect that _you_ are still in the
basement, temporarily occupying my body, while the man returning to the
delights of his wedded chamber is a being truly capable of utilizing
her particular talents to the greatest advantage. She may wonder at
your sudden virility, but I believe she will be rather pleased, if not
delighted."