At first she saw nothing, for the windows were closed, but after a few moments she perceived dimly that the floor was entirely covered with clotted blood, and that in this were reflected the dead bodies of several women that hung along the walls. These were all the wives of Blue Beard, whose throats he had cut, one after another. She thought to die of terror, and the key of the room, which she had just withdrawn from the lock, fell from her hand. When she had somewhat regained her senses, she picked up the key, closed the door, and went up to her chamber to compose herself a little. But this she could not do, for her nerves were too shaken. Noticing that the key of the little room was stained with blood, she wiped it two or three times. But the blood did not go. She washed it well, and even rubbed it with sand and grit. Always the blood remained. For the key was bewitched, and there was no means of cleaning it completely. When the blood was removed from one side, it reappeared on the other. [Illustration: '_She washed it well_'] Blue Beard returned from his journey that very evening. He had received some letters on the way, he said, from which he learned that the business upon which he had set forth had just been concluded to his satisfaction. His wife did everything she could to make it appear that she was delighted by his speedy return. [Illustration: _Sister Anne_] On the morrow he demanded the keys. She gave them to him, but with so trembling a hand that he guessed at once what had happened. 'How comes it,' he said to her, 'that the key of the little room is not with the others?' 'I must have left it upstairs upon my table,' she said. 'Do not fail to bring it to me presently,' said Blue Beard. After several delays the key had to be brought. Blue Beard examined it, and addressed his wife. 'Why is there blood on this key?' 'I do not know at all,' replied the poor woman, paler than death. 'You do not know at all?' exclaimed Blue Beard; 'I know well enough. You wanted to enter the little room! Well, madam, enter it you shall--you shall go and take your place among the ladies you have seen there.' She threw herself at her husband's feet, asking his pardon with tears, and with all the signs of a true repentance for her disobedience. She would have softened a rock, in her beauty and distress, but Blue Beard had a heart harder than any stone. 'You must die, madam,' he said; 'and at once.' 'Since I must die,' she replied, gazing at him with eyes that were wet with tears, 'give me a little time to say my prayers.' 'I give you one quarter of an hour,' replied Blue Beard, 'but not a moment longer.' When the poor girl was alone, she called her sister to her and said: 'Sister Anne'--for that was her name--'go up, I implore you, to the top of the tower, and see if my brothers are not approaching. They promised that they would come and visit me to-day. If you see them, make signs to them to hasten.'