In which the somber Count d’Ahlefeld, bowed by revelations that shatter his pride and lineage, confronts the ruin of his honour and the collapse of his ambitious designs, whilst the loyal yet outcast hangman Nychol Orugix seeks a boon, only to be cast aside. The scene unfolds with a heart heavy from betrayals and madness, as Elphega, stricken by grievous news, succumbs to a sorrow that seems to cleave the very soul.