BLUEBEARD. Perhaps I ought to tell you at once, Miss Riding Hood, that I have been married before.
RIDING HOOD. Yes?
BLUEBEARD. My last wife unfortunately died just before I started out here this evening.
RIDING HOOD (calmly). Did you kill her?
BLUEBEARD (taken aback). I—I—I—
RIDING HOOD. Are you quite a nice man, Bluebeard?
BLUEBEARD. W-what do you mean? I am a very rich man. If you will marry me, you will live in a wonderful castle, full of everything that you want.
RIDING HOOD. That will be rather jolly.
BLUEBEARD (dramatically) But there is one room into which you must never go. (Holding up a key) Here is the key of it. (He offers it to her.)
RIDING HOOD (indifferently) But if I'm never to go into it, I shan't want the key.