Satan's Rout

'The first guests!' exclaimed Koroviev. ' Monsieur Jacques and his wife. Allow me to introduce to you, your majesty, a most interesting man. A confirmed forger, a traitor to his country but no mean alchemist. He was famous,' Koroviev whispered into Margarita's ear, ' for having poisoned the king's mistress. Not everybody can boast of that, can they? See how good-looking he is! ' Turning pale and open-mouthed with shock, Margarita looked down and saw gallows and coffin disappear through a side door in the hall. 'We are delighted! ' the cat roared to Monsieur Jacques as he mounted the steps. Just then a headless, armless skeleton appeared in the fireplace below, fell down and turned into yet another man in a tailcoat. Monsieur Jacques' wife had by now reached the head of the staircase where she knelt down, pale with excitement, and kissed Margarita's foot.  


Mikhail Bulgakov 
The Master and Margarita