Miss Anna on top of the tower, on the lookout for her brother.
She entered the closet, but it was too dark for her to discern any object; however, she could just perceive that there was a window, the shutters of which were closed: she went forward and removed them. The instant that light was admitted, her curiosity was gratified. She found herself amidst the severed limbs and mutilated bodies of her husband's former wives. The scene was frightful! Her own future condition, she immediately thought, might add to these dreadful objects! Her blood chilled! The very hair rose upon her head! Nor was her terror diminished, when she saw upon the wall these awful words—The fate of broken promises and disobedient curiosity.—She trembled excessively; and in the alarm of the moment, she let fall the key of the closet, which she had brought in her hand: she hastily snatched it from the floor; and having summoned sufficient courage to close the shutters, she came out of this dreadful apartment, and locked the door.
The Brother arrives.
Fatima hastened to her sister, who not choosing to partake of her sister's folly, had proceeded to their customary sitting-room. She related what she had seen; particularly the sentence which was on the wall. Her sister partook of her alarm; and feared that evil consequences would result from this unfortunate affair. She asked Fatima if she had closed the window-shutters and brought away the key: and returned every thing she had moved to its proper place; Fatima said she had; and, in proof of her answer to the inquiry, showed the key itself.
The key, however, was no sooner produced than they both turned pale with horror. This fatal instrument was covered with blood! and all their endeavours could not clear it of its condemning evidence.
During the remainder of the evening they employed themselves in making every sort of exertion to restore the key to its former state; but all they could do was ineffectual; it still preserved the testimony of Fatima's indiscretion. At night they retired to bed; but no sleep did the wretched girls obtain. The splendor and riches of the castle lost all their charms; Fatima no longer prided herself upon her good fortune; she felt that no creature could be more miserable than she was. How soon Blue Beard would return, she had no means of conjecturing; it was not likely, however, that he would be at the castle again for some days to come; she therefore resolved to escape from this dreadful mansion as soon as the entertainment, which was appointed for the next day, should have taken place.
When she arose in the morning, she communicated to her sister the intention she had formed; and they both began to feel less dread than they had experienced since the discoveries in the fatal closet. The day advanced, and they looked forward to the arrival of the relatives and friends whom they had invited to this day's entertainment.