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 beard was not ſo very blue, and that he was a mighty civil gentleman.

So ſoon as they returned home, the marriage was concluded. About a month afterwards, Blue Beard told his wife that he was obliged to take a country journey for ſix weeks at leaſt, about affairs of very great conſequence, deſiring her to divert herſelf in his abſence, ſend for her friends and acquaintance, carry them into the country, if ſhe pleaſed, and make good cheer wherever ſhe was: "Here, ſaid he, are the keys of the two great wardrobes, wherein I have my beſt furniture? Theſe are of my ſilver and my gold plate, which is not every day in uſe; theſe open my ſtrong boxes, which hold my money, both gold and ſilver; these my caſkets of jewels; and this is the maſter key of all my apartments: But for this little one here, it is the key of the cloſet at the end of the great gallery, on the ground floor. Open them all; go into every one except that little cloſet, which I forbid you, and forbid it in ſuch a manner, that if you open it, there is nothing but what you may expect from my juſt anger and resentment." She promiſed to observe very exactly what he had ordered; when he, after having embraced her, got into his coach, and proceeded on his journey.

Her neighbours and good friends did not ſtay to be ſent for by the new married lady, ſo great was their impatience to ſee all the rich furniture of her houſe, not daring to come while her huſband was there, becauſe of his blue beard which frightened them. They ran through all the rooms, cloſets, and wardrobes, which were all ſo rich and fine, that they ſeemed to ſurpass one another. After that they went up into the two great rooms, where were the beſt and richeſt furniture. They could not ſufficiently admire the number and beauty of the tapeſtry beds, couches, cabinets, ſtands, tables, and