Page:Popular story of Blue Beard, or, The effects of female curiosity.pdf/17

( 17 ) since you are so fond of prying into secrets, you shall take up your abode with the ladies you saw in that closet. Now, madam, expect no mercy, as nothing can alter your fate. The punishment you shall receive is only the just reward of your disobedience and imprudent curiosity."

Almost expiring with terror, the trembling Fatima sunk upon her knees, and implored him in the most piteous manner to forgive her. While supplicating him to spare her life, she looked so mournfllymournfully [sic] in his face, that it would have melted any heart which was not herder than stone. However, it had no effect on the cruel Blue Beard; for he drew his dreadful scimetar, and desired her to prepare for immediate death.

Blue Beard had raised his arm to perpetrate the horrible deed, when a dreadful shriek from her sister, who at that moment entered the apartment, arrested his attention, Her sister entreated him to spare the life of Fatima, but he was deaf to her intercession, and the only favour that the relentless tyrant would grant to her entreaties, was a respite of a quarter of an hour, that she might make her peace with Heaven before he put her to death.