However, in the midst of their mutual congratulations upon the plan which had been formed, they heard the arrival of a carriage at the castle, and in a few moments Blue Beard himself entered their apartment. Fatima felt all the horror which the remembrance of the closet could excite, and all the shame which the consciousness of her own impropriety could not fail to produce. Blue Beard did not seem to notice his wife's uneasiness; but with apparent good humour said, "that he had not proceeded very far, when he met a messenger who was coming to the castle to inform him that it was no longer necessary he should proceed on his intended journey; that he had therefore lost no time in returning home; where," he said, "Fatima's presence rendered him so peculiarly happy." Soon afterwards Blue Beard, as though he wanted something, asked his wife for the keys. She went to the chamber and returned with all of them excepting the one which belonged to the dreadful closet; for it still preserved the evidence of her disobedience. He took them with seeming good-natured indifference, and did not pretend to observe how the wretched girl trembled. As he held them in his hand, he said to her, with affected carelessness, "The key of the blue closet is not here; bring it to me in my dressing-room." He arose and left the apartment in which they were sitting; and Fatima and her sister proceeded to her chamber. Again they tried to remove the blood with which the key was stained; but all their efforts were unavailing. At length Blue Beard called his wife, and as she and her sister were going to his dressing-room, they met him in the gallery, close to the stairs which led to the top of the castle. As soon as she approached him, he threw off the disguise of good nature which he had assumed in the sitting room, and demanded the key of the closet. The tone of voice in which this was uttered, struck upon her ear like the knell for her execution; she seemed to be deprived of the power of speaking. He became impatient, and seizing her hand, took from it the blood-stained key. The wretched girl fell upon her knees, the tears rushed into her eyes, and enabled her to speak; but by this time Blue Beard stood over her with his sword unsheathed. Fatima's sister, as she stood by, almost petrified, gave a dreadful shriek when she saw the instrument of death raised over her defenceless sister. The sound caught the ear of Blue Beard; and for a moment his intention was suspended. Looking upon his wretched victim, "Where," said he, "was your promise, when you were fool enough to enter the closet? and where was the obedience you promised to pay me, when you suffered your curiosity to overcome your duty? But you shall commit no more crimes; therefore receive _the fate of broken promises, and disobedient curiosity_."