It so happens that the tyrant has a daughter who he prizes highly. She has fallen in love with a man of lower social status, and manages to keep their love affair secret for several months before her father, the king, finds out about it. Enraged, he decrees that the young man will be sent to the arena.
Before the fateful day arrives, the princess, through bribes and sheer force of will, manages to find out which door will contain the tiger and which the woman. Further, she finds out who that woman will be. It is a beautiful lady of the court, whom the princess loathes because she often tried to flirt with the young man. This made the princess jealous, and in her jealousy, she fancied that her lover might not have totally objected to this flirting.
On the day of the trial, the princess is seated by her father's side when the young man is led into the arena. As her lover bows to the king, he and the princess lock eyes and he realizes that she knows what lies behind each door. He sends her an unspoken plea for guidance and, unseen by all save him, the princess gestures at one of the doors. Her lover turns, unhesitatingly walks to the door,throws it open, and...? *SPOILER* The story ends here, leaving us to ponder the question, what was behind the door- the lady, or the tiger?