Theinstitutionwasaverypopularone。Whenthepeoplegatheredtogetherononeofthegreattrialdays，theyneverknewwhethertheyweretowitnessabloodyslaughterorahilariouswedding。
Thiselementofuncertaintylentaninteresttotheoccasionwhichitcouldnototherwisehaveattained。Thus，themasseswereentertainedandpleased，andthethinkingpartofthecommunitycouldbringnochargeofunfairnessagainstthisplan，fordidnottheaccusedpersonhavethewholematterinhisownhands？
Thissemi—barbarickinghadadaughterasbloomingashismostfloridfancies，andwithasoulasferventandimperiousashisown。Asisusualinsuchcases，shewastheappleofhiseye，andwaslovedbyhimaboveallhumanity。Amonghiscourtierswasayoungmanofthatfinenessofbloodandlownessofstationcommontotheconventionalheroesofromancewholoveroyalmaidens。Thisroyalmaidenwaswellsatisfiedwithherlover，forhewashandsomeandbravetoadegreeunsurpassedinallthiskingdom，andshelovedhimwithanardorthathadenoughofbarbarisminittomakeitexceedinglywarmandstrong。Thisloveaffairmovedonhappilyformanymonths，untilonedaythekinghappenedtodiscoveritsexistence。Hedidnothesitatenorwaverinregardtohisdutyinthepremises。Theyouthwasimmediatelycastintoprison，andadaywasappointedforhistrialintheking\'sarena。This，ofcourse，wasanespeciallyimportantoccasion，andhismajesty，aswellasallthepeople，wasgreatlyinterestedintheworkingsanddevelopmentofthistrial。Neverbeforehadsuchacaseoccurred；neverbeforehadasubjectdaredtolovethedaughteroftheking。Inafteryearssuchthingsbecamecommonplaceenough，butthentheywereinnoslightdegreenovelandstartling。
Thetiger—cagesofthekingdomweresearchedforthemostsavageandrelentlessbeasts，fromwhichthefiercestmonstermightbeselectedforthearena；andtheranksofmaidenyouthandbeautythroughoutthelandwerecarefullysurveyedbycompetentjudgesinorderthattheyoungmanmighthaveafittingbrideincasefatedidnotdetermineforhimadifferentdestiny。Ofcourse，everybodyknewthatthedeedwithwhichtheaccusedwaschargedhadbeendone。Hehadlovedtheprincess，andneitherhe，she，noranyoneelse，thoughtofdenyingthefact；butthekingwouldnotthinkofallowinganyfactofthiskindtointerferewiththeworkingsofthetribunal，inwhichhetooksuchgreatdelightandsatisfaction。Nomatterhowtheaffairturnedout，theyouthwouldbedisposedof，andthekingwouldtakeanaestheticpleasureinwatchingthecourseofevents，whichwoulddeterminewhetherornottheyoungmanhaddonewronginallowinghimselftolovetheprincess。
Theappointeddayarrived。Fromfarandnearthepeoplegathered，andthrongedthegreatgalleriesofthearena，andcrowds，unabletogainadmittance，massedthemselvesagainstitsoutsidewalls。
Thekingandhiscourtwereintheirplaces，oppositethetwindoors，thosefatefulportals，soterribleintheirsimilarity。
Allwasready。Thesignalwasgiven。Adoorbeneaththeroyalpartyopened，andtheloveroftheprincesswalkedintothearena。
Tall，beautiful，fair，hisappearancewasgreetedwithalowhumofadmirationandanxiety。Halftheaudiencehadnotknownsograndayouthhadlivedamongthem。Nowondertheprincesslovedhim!Whataterriblethingforhimtobethere!
Astheyouthadvancedintothearenaheturned，asthecustomwas，tobowtotheking，buthedidnotthinkatallofthatroyalpersonage。Hiseyeswerefixedupontheprincess，whosattotherightofherfather。Haditnotbeenforthemoietyofbarbarisminhernatureitisprobablethatladywouldnothavebeenthere，butherintenseandfervidsoulwouldnotallowhertobeabsentonanoccasioninwhichshewassoterriblyinterested。Fromthemomentthatthedecreehadgoneforththatherlovershoulddecidehisfateintheking\'sarena，shehadthoughtofnothing，nightorday，butthisgreateventandthevarioussubjectsconnectedwithit。Possessedofmorepower，influence，andforceofcharacterthananyonewhohadeverbeforebeeninterestedinsuchacase，shehaddonewhatnootherpersonhaddone，——shehadpossessedherselfofthesecretofthedoors。Sheknewinwhichofthetworooms，thatlaybehindthosedoors，stoodthecageofthetiger，withitsopenfront，andinwhichwaitedthelady。
Throughthesethickdoors，heavilycurtainedwithskinsontheinside，itwasimpossiblethatanynoiseorsuggestionshouldcomefromwithintothepersonwhoshouldapproachtoraisethelatchofoneofthem。Butgold，andthepowerofawoman\'swill，hadbroughtthesecrettotheprincess。