But there was no escape
from the truth. Conviction of its humiliating nature came too soon, and,
by the time the calm of intense curiosity had succeeded to the momentary
excitement of the spectators, she was standing an exquisite but painful
picture of wounded feminine feeling and of maiden shame. Her parents, too,
were stupified by the suddenness of the unexpected shock, and it was
longer before their faculties recovered the tone proper to meet an insult
so unprovoked and gross.
"This is unusual;" drily remarked the bailiff, who was the first to break
the long and painful silence.
"It is brutal!" warmly interposed the Signor Grimaldi. "Unless there has
been deception practised on the bridegroom, it is utterly without excuse."
"Your experience, Signore, has readily suggested the true points in a very
knotty case, and I shall proceed without delay to look into its merits."
Sigismund resumed his seat, his hand releasing the sword-hilt that it had
spontaneously grasped when he heard this declaration of the bailiff's
intentions.
"For the sake of thy poor sister, forbear!" whispered the terrified
Adelheid.
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