Next day Selenus ascended the tribunal, and was accompanied by his nephews Primus and Lysimachus, whom he forced to attend. Bryene and Thomais appeared, each holding a hand of the sick girl and sustaining her. They begged to be tried and condemned with her. “They are a pair of old hags,” said Selenus. “Dismiss them.” Then they were separated from their charge. “Mother,” said Febronia, clinging to and kissing Bryene, “I trust in God that, as I have been ever obedient to thee in the monastery, so I may be faithful to what thou hast exhorted me to do, faithful here openly before all the people. Go then—do not stay here, but pray for me, but before leaving give me thy benediction.” Then she slid to her knees, and Bryene, stretching her hands to heaven, cried: “Lord Jesus Christ, who didst appear to Thy handmaid Thecla, in her agony, to comfort her, stand by Thy lowly one in her great contest.” So saying, she fell on the neck of Febronia, and they kissed and wept and clung to each other till parted by the soldiers. Then, unable to bear the sight of what she knew must follow, Bryene retired to the deserted convent, and begged that word might be sent her as to how all ended. In the meantime, Hiera had heard of the arrest of Febronia, and wild with grief she rushed to the place of judgment. She found the court crammed with people, mostly women, agitated, indignant, and murmuring. There was a space clear before the tribunal, where stood the accused, and at one side were various instruments of torture, and a stake driven into the ground furnished with rings and ropes. On the judgment seat were Selenus, with his nephews by him. Selenus turned to Lysimachus, and said, “Do you open the examination.” The young man, struggling with his emotion, began—“Tell me, young maiden, what is thy condition?” “I am a servant,” answered Febronia. “Whose servant?” asked Lysimachus. “I am the servant of Christ.” “And tell me thy name, I pray thee.” “I am a humble Christian,” answered Febronia. “May I ask thy name, maiden?” “The good mother always calls me Febronia.” Then Selenus broke in: “We shall never have done if you push along in this fashion. To the point at once. Febronia, I vow by the gods that I have no desire to hurt thee. Here is a gallant young gentleman, my nephew; take him as thy husband, and forget the silly stuff, thy religion. I had other views for the boy, but that matters not; never have I seen a sweeter face than thine, and I am content to accept thee as my niece. I am a man of few words: accept my offer, and all is well; or by the living gods I will make thee rue the refusal.” Febronia replied calmly, “I have a heavenly Bridegroom, eternal; with celestial glory as His dower.” Selenus burst forth with, “Soldiers, strip the wench.” He was obeyed; they allowed her to wear only a tattered cloak over her shoulders. Calm, without a sign of being discomposed, Febronia bore the outrage.