clean it; still, however,the blood remained the same as before, she next washed it, but the blood did not stir at all; she then scoured it with brickdust, and afterwards with sand, but notwithstanding all she could do, the blood was still there; for the key was a fairy, who was Blue Beard’s friend, so that as fast us she got it off on one side, it appeared again on the other.
Early in the evening Blue Beard returned home; saying, he had not proceeded far on his journey before he was met by a messenger who was coming to tell him that his business was happily concluded without his being present: upon which his wife said every thing she could think of, to make him believe she was transported with joy at his unexpected return.
The next morning he asked her for the keys: she gave them to him; but as she could not help showing her fright, Blue Beard easily guessed what had happened, “How is it,” said he, “that the key of the closet upon the ground-floor is not here?" — "Is it not? then I must have left it on my dressing-table,” said she, and left the room in tears. “Be sure you give it me by and by'” cried Blue Beard.
After going several times backwards and forwards, pretending to look for the key, she was at last obliged to give it to Blue Beard.
