Final answer:
In 'The Lady, or the Tiger,' when someone was accused of a crime, they faced a trial by ordeal involving two doors; one hid a lady, and the other a tiger, with the choice determining their fate.
Step-by-step explanation:
In The Lady, or the Tiger, when a subject was accused of a crime, they would face a public trial by ordeal wherein the accused had to choose between two doors. Behind one door was a lady who would be their wife if chosen, signifying their innocence; behind the other was a ferocious tiger that would devour them, signifying their guilt. This method of justice was arbitrary and based on chance rather than evidence or a fair trial process. The story itself does not specify what happens to the accused, as it ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers to ponder whether the lover of the princess faced the lady or the tiger.