But no--she had not yet risen; she still lay stretched at full length on the floor.
"She has come to; but she still pretends to be in a swoon," thought the king; and he turned to Douglas.
"We are done," said he; "the warrant for imprisonment is prepared, and the sentence of the adulterous queen is spoken.

We have done with her forever; and never shall she again behold our face, or again hear our voice.

She is sentenced and damned, and the royal mercy has nothing more to do with this sinner.

A curse on the adulteress! A curse on the shameless woman who deceived her husband, and gave herself up to a traitorous paramour! Woe to her, and may shame and disgrace forever mark her name, which--" Suddenly the king stopped and listened.

The noise that he had heard just, before was now repeated louder and quicker; it came nearer and nearer.
And now the door opened and a figure entered--a figure which made the king stare with astonishment and admiration.