[Illustration: Mr. Blue Beard in a passion.] Fatima promised that she would obey his desire. She thanked her husband for his kind attention to her comforts; and again promised that she would not disappoint the confidence he had placed in her, but would carefully abstain from examining the particular apartment he had named. Blue Beard set off upon his journey; and Fatima having informed her sister of every thing that had passed in their late conversation, they agreed to invite their relatives and friends to an entertainment the next day; but more particularly their two brothers, who, having been absent from home as military officers, had not yet seen their sister's magnificent residence. Having arranged every thing for their intended party, Fatima proposed that they should see the apartments of which she now had the keys. They accordingly proceeded to that part of the extensive castle which they had not as yet seen, and at last arrived at a most splendid suit of rooms, far surpassing those to which they had been accustomed. On one side of one of these apartments they perceived a door, which they opened, and found behind it an iron gate of amazing strength. Among the keys Blue Beard had left, they found one which opened this massy portal. When they entered the room which was before them, they were surprised to find it almost full of large iron chests: but their surprise was considerably increased when they had found, that they were full of gold, silver, and jewels; even the costliness of the apartments they had just quitted, seemed insignificant when compared with the riches which this treasury contained. Having fastened the entrance to the treasury, they sat down and conversed upon what they had seen. Fatima could not avoid feeling that the personal deformity in Blue Beard was compensated by the vast wealth of which she was become the mistress; but both she and her sister were almost lost in admiration of the immeasurable riches they had lately beheld. In returning to their usual apartments, they passed the door of the mysterious blue closet, which Blue Beard had cautioned his wife not to examine. They could not help expressing their mutual curiosity upon the interior of this particular chamber. It could not have been his wish to conceal any articles of value; as nothing could be more valuable than the contents of the treasury. After some deliberation, Fatima said that they could do no harm by merely looking inside; and although her sister reminded her of the promise she had made her husband, and of his express desire, yet she resolved to gratify her irresistible curiosity, and put the key to the door. [Illustration: Miss Anna on top of the tower, on the lookout for her brother.]