As she went from him, and through the house towards her own apartment, at the foot of the great staircase she met with her sister Anne, who (unaware of Blue Beard's return) had just arrived to pay her a visit.
'Ah, dear sister!' cried Fatima, embracing her. 'But tell me, oh, and for Heaven's sake, quickly! where are my brothers Selim and Hassan, who promised to come with you?'
'They are at home,' said Anne. 'They were detained at parade, and I have come ahead of them. I could wait for them no longer in my impatience to see you; but just as I was starting they arrived back from the parade-ground, and sent word that they will follow as soon as they have groomed their horses, and spend a happy day with you.'
'Alas!' sobbed Fatima, 'they will never see me alive in this world!'
'But what has happened? 'asked her sister, amazed.
'He—Blue Beard—has returned.... Yes, and in a few minutes he has promised to kill me. But ah! ask me no questions—there is so little time left. Dear sister, if you love me, run upstairs and still up to the top of the tower, look if my brothers are not coming, and if you see them, give them a signal to make haste!'
Her sister Anne left her and ran up, up, to the roof of the tower; and from time to time as the minutes sped, the unhappy Fatima cried up to her:—
'Anne, Sister Anne, do you see any one coming?'
And Sister Anne answered her:—
'I see nothing but the noon dust a-blowing, and the green grass a-growing.'