"Ah, you have killed her----" "No! Her father is slain, but she lives. She has vanished--no one knows where!" "Then may the gods guide her safe to her home and country, and keep her from knowing how I die." "If you will swear to see her no more, Radames, I will save thee." "If I were to live I should find her. I will not swear." "Then you shall die. If you will not hear me, I shall avenge myself," she answered bitterly, motioning to the guards to take him away. Radames was taken below to the subterranean hall which was to be his grave and judgment hall alike, while Amneris was left alone, both grief-stricken and revengeful. Her jealousy was certain to bring fearful retribution upon her. As more white-robed priests passed below, looking spectral and ominous, she hid her face in her hands. "It was I who brought him to this fate," she murmured, and then listened in anguish to the chorus of the priests which sounded dismally from below. Then a voice called from the crypt, three times: "Radames, Radames, Radames," and it was his summons to judgment. "Oh, who can save him now?" Amneris murmured, horrified at what was taking place. "Defend thyself!" she heard voices from below command. There was no answer. "Radames, Radames, Radames," the High Priest called again in a fearful voice, and again the Princess shuddered. "Thou hast deserted the encampment the very day before the combat!--defend thyself." She listened, but still no answer. "Radames, Radames, Radames," again the High Priest called, and for the third and last time. Still no answer. "Oh, have mercy on him," Amneris then cried, her love becoming greater than her desire for revenge. Then listening again, she heard the judge say: "Radames, thy fate is decided. It is to be the fate of a traitor. You shall be buried alive beneath the altar of the God of War, whom thou hast derided and betrayed." "Oh, horror," Amneris shrieked. "We have spoken," the priests replied, and then ascended. "Ye priests of Isis, ye are tigers! demons!" and the Princess assailed them bitterly as they came into the hall. She was now mad with grief. Truly loving Radames, she cursed the priests and even the gods. Then the scene changed, revealing the interior of Vulcan's Temple and the crypt beneath the altar. There were spectral statues, and great marble columns which seemed to vanish in the gloom, and all was gloomy as the grave. Stairs led from the temple above into the vault, and Radames sat down upon the steps as the priests let down again the massive stone that covered the opening beneath the altar. Radames watched the closing of the opening, the descent of the great stone into place.