Page:Story of Blue Beard, or, The effects of female curiosity.pdf/9

 He looked at it attentively, and then said. “How came the blood upon the key?” "I am sure I do not know,” replied the lady, turning at the same time 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: Vastly well, madam; since you are so mightily fond of this closet, you shall certainly take your place among the ladies you saw there.”

His wife, almost dead with fear, fell upon her knees; asked his pardon a thousand times for her disobedience, and entreated him to forgive her; looking all the time so very 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 trembling 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 Blue Beard had left her to herself, she called her sister; and after telling her, as well as she could for sobbing, that she had but half a quarter of an hour to live; "Pr’ythee,” said she, "sister Ann," (this was her sister’s name,) “run up to the top of the tower, and see if my brothers are yet