When all the people had assembled, the king, surrounded by his court, gave a signal. Then a door beneath him opened, and the accused man stepped out into the arena. Directly opposite him were two doors, exactly alike and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of them. He could open either door he pleased; he was subject to no guidance or influence but that of impartial and incorruptible chance. If he opened the one, there came out of it a hungry tiger, the fiercest and most cruel that could be found, which immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as a punishment for his guilt. But, if the accused person opened the other door, out of it came a beautiful lady, and to this lady he was immediately married, as a reward of his innocence. This was the king’s method of administering justice. Its perfect fairness is obvious. The criminal could not know out of which door would come up the lady; he opened eithe