the consul recalls the sleigh ride. torsten speeds by with lars-erik, lashing the horses, anna and gustaf in pursuit. torsten won't stop, so anna shoots him. he slips into the river and over the falls. the consul believes anna is innocent, but the judges are not satisfied. anna protests that she left a message inside the chess set. emma admits to keeping the letter, but she is above reading other people's mail. it is a full confession—and a suicide note. while the judges deliberate, gustaf coaxes anna into admitting that she loves him. he proposes. the clerk tells them that the judges are ready and adds that gustaf should come, too.