A huge crowd of people gathered in the square to watch the execution. Caresse de Monteban and the Knight Templar Wencelas Duchante were sentenced to death for adultery. Caress was buried alive, and Venselas was to die at the stake because he had broken his vow of chastity. The townspeople rejoiced and shouted with delight. For them, such creepy scenes were real entertainment. The audience applauded as Caress was placed in a small hole and covered with earth. But the public came into particular ecstasy precisely when the fire lit under Venselas. The hot smoke burned his lungs, but the knight did not pay any attention to it. He looked with hatred at Raphael de Monteban, standing in the first row, who watched him without any regret and applauded his executioners along with the rest of the spectators...