Page:The sleeping beauty and other fairy tales from the old French (1910).djvu/66

Blue Beard 'Fetch it to me at once,' said Blue Beard. 'At once, and without fail.'

She went, and after a while returned, protesting that she could not find it.

'Go back and seek again,' commanded Blue Beard, dangerously calm.

After going backwards and forwards several times, she could pretend no longer, but brought him the key. Blue Beard examined it closely, and demanded—

'How came this blood upon the key?'

'I do not know,' answered poor Fatima, paler than death.

'You do not know!' cried Blue Beard in a terrible voice. 'But I know well enough. You have chosen to enter that closet. Mighty well, madam; since that poor room of mine so appeals to your fancy, your whim shall not be denied. You shall go in, and take your place among the ladies you saw there!'

Fatima flung herself at her husband's feet, and wept and begged his pardon with every sign of truly repenting her disobedience. She would have melted a rock, so beautiful and sorrowful she was; but Blue Beard had a heart harder than any rock.

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