and hurried to her own room, terrified by what she had seen.

As she observed that the key had got stained with blood in falling on
the floor, she wiped it two or three times to clean it; but the blood
still remained; she next washed it; but the blood did not go; she then
scoured it with brickdust, and afterwards with sand. But notwithstanding
all she could do, the blood was still there, for the key was a fairy,
who was Blue Beard's friend, so that as fast as she got the stain off
one side it appeared again on the other. Early in the evening Blue
Beard returned, saying he had not proceeded far before he was met by a
messenger, who told him that the business was concluded without his
presence being necessary. His wife said everything she could think of
to make him believe that she was delighted at his unexpected return.

[Illustration]

The next morning, he asked for the keys. She gave them, but, as she
could not help showing her fright, Blue Beard easily guessed what had
happened.

"How is it," said he, "that the key of the closet upon the ground floor
is not here."

"Is it not?" said the wife. "I must have left it on my dressing table."

"Be sure you give it me by and by," replied Blue Beard.

After going several times backwards and forwards, pretending to look for
the key, she was at last obliged to give it to Blue Beard. He looked at
it attentively, and then said:

"How came this blood upon the key?"

"I am sure I do not know," replied the lady, turning as pale as death.

"You do not know?" said Blue Beard sternly. "But I know well enough. You
have been in the closet on the ground floor. Very well, madam; since you
are so mightily fond of this closet, you shall certainly take your place
among the ladies you saw there."

[Illustration]

His wife, almost dead with fear, fell upon her knees, asked his pardon
a thousand times for her disobedience, and begged him to forgive her,
looking all the time so sorrowful and lovely that she would have melted
any heart that was not harder than a rock.

But Blue Beard answered:

"No, no, madam; you shall die this very minute."

"Alas," said the poor creature, "if I must die, allow me, at least, a
little time to say my prayers!"

"I give you," replied the cruel Blue Beard, "half a quarter of an
hour--not one moment longer."

When Bluebeard had left her to herself, she called her sister; and,
after telling her that she had but half a quarter of an hour to live: