Blue Beard
country and be away six weeks at least on a matter of business. He desired her to divert herself in his absence by sending for her friends, to carry them oft to the country if she pleased, and to make good cheer wherever she was.
'Here,' said he, 'are the keys of the two great store-chambers where I keep my spare furniture; these open the strong-rooms of my gold and silver plate which is only used on state occasions; these unlock my chests of money, both gold and silver; these, my jewel coffers; and this is the master-key to all my apartments. But this little one, here, is the key of the closet at the end of the great gallery on the ground floor. Open all the others; go where you will. But into that little closet I forbid you to go; and I forbid it so strongly that if you should disobey me and open it, there is nothing you may not expect from my displeasure.'
Fatima promised to obey all his orders exactly; whereupon he embraced her, got into his coach, and was driven off.
Her good friends and neighbours scarcely waited for the young bride's invitation, so impatient were they to view all the riches of her grand house, having
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