She was lifted up and carried into the castle, and physicians were called to attend to her bruises and scratches.
“It is all the fault of that miserable girl,” Grognon screamed again and again. “It is some trick she arranged for me, and she had no other hope than that I should be killed outright. But she shall be punished for her wickedness. She shall find that she cannot treat me in such a manner without suffering for it.”
She then demanded that the King should send Graciosa to her and allow her to punish the Princess as she saw fit.
The King was loth to agree to this, and yet he dared not refuse, for he feared that Grognon might fall into such a fury that she would refuse to marry him and would return to her own castle, and so he would lose her treasures. He felt himself obliged to allow Grognon to carry out her wishes.
Graciosa was sent to the Duchess’s chamber and went with fear and trembling.
No sooner had she entered than the door was locked behind her. She saw, with terror, that back of Grognon’s couch stood four tall and terrible-looking attendants, each armed with a heavy staff.
“Now, my beauty,” cried Grognon furiously, “it is my turn. No doubt you were vastly amused by my misadventure, but now you yourself shall know how it feels to be covered with wounds and bruises.”
She then bade her attendants seize Graciosa and beat her as long as their strength held out, or until their staves were broken.
Graciosa would have begged for mercy, but suddenly a whisper sounded in her ear. “Fear not, Graciosa. I, Percinet, am beside thee. The blows shall not harm thee, but when they fall, cry out as though they were beyond all bearing.”
Graciosa at once recognized the voice of Percinet, and knowing he was there, all fear left her, and she could have laughed aloud for joy. However, she pretended to be almost fainting from terror.