Quickly Anne ran up and up until she reached the roof of the tower; and Fatima, standing at the foot, called up to her:
'Sister Anne! Dear sister Anne! Do you see any one coming?'
And Anne answered her:
'I see naught but dust a-blowing, naught but the green grass growing.'
Presently Fatima called up again:
'Sister Anne, can you see no one coming?'
'Nay, I see naught but dust a-blowing, naught but the green grass growing.'
Fatima, in despair, continued to call again and again, but always the same answer came down from the roof of the tower. And so the ten minutes ran out, and Fatima wrung her hands and groaned.
Meanwhile Blue Beard, having sharpened his sword, was trying its edge on the greensward of the terrace below. Fully satisfied with it, he strode into the house, and, standing at the foot of the stairs, shouted, 'Madam, your time is up. Come down at once!'
'One moment,—just one moment,' she replied, then called softly to her sister: 'Anne, sister Anne, do you see any one coming?'