That night the wife was terrified to hear Bluebeard returning, though she tried to welcome him with every show of delight and affection. He explained his sudden change of plans by saying that he had met a friend on the road who told him that it was unnecessary for him to make the long journey, as the business he was intending to transact had been all done.
It was a very unhappy night she passed, but Bluebeard said nothing to
disturb her until morning, and then he presently asked her for his keys.
She gave them to him, but her hand trembled like an old woman's.
Bluebeard took the keys and looked them over carelessly.
"I see the key of the little room at the end of the long gallery on the first floor is not with the others. Where is it?"
"It must have fallen off in the drawer where I kept the keys," she said.
"Please get it for me at once," said Bluebeard, "as I wish to go to the room."
The wife, as white as a sheet, and almost too faint to walk, went back to her chamber and returned, saying she could not find the key.
"But I must have it," said Bluebeard; "go again and look more carefully for it. Certainly you cannot have lost it."
So back to the chamber went the terrified woman, and, seeing no hope of escape, she carried the key down to her waiting husband.
Bluebeard took the key, and looking at it closely, said to his wife,
"Why is this blood spot on the key?"
"I do not know," said the wife, faintly.