“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.

“You do not know!” said Bluebeard.  “Well, I know.  You wanted to go to the little room.  Very well; I shall see that you get there and take your place with the other ladies.”

In despair the young woman flung herself at his feet and begged for mercy, repenting bitterly of her curiosity.  Bluebeard turned a deaf ear to all her entreaties and was not moved in the least by her piteous beauty.

“Hear me, madam.  You must die at, once,” he said.

“But give me a little time to make my peace with God,” she said.  “I must have time to say my prayers.”

“I will give you a quarter of an hour,” answered Bluebeard, “but not a minute more.”

He turned away, and she sent for her sister, who came quickly at her summons.

“Sister Ann,” she said excitedly, “go up to the top of the tower and see if my brothers are coming.  They promised to come and see me to-day.  If they are on the road make signs to them to hurry as fast as they can.  I am in awful despair.”

[Illustration:  Sister Ann watching from the tower]

Without waiting for an explanation the sister went to the top of the tower and began her watch.

She was scarcely seated when her sister called up, “Sister Annie, do you see any one coming?”

Annie answered, “I see nothing but the sun on the golden dust and the grass which grows green.”

In the meantime, Bluebeard, who had armed himself with a sharp, curved scimitar, stood at the foot of the stairs waiting for his wife to come down.

“Annie, sister Annie, do you see any one coming down the road?” cried the wife again.

“No, I see nothing but the golden dust.”

Then Bluebeard called out, “Come down quickly now, or I will come up to you.”

“One minute more,” replied his wife; and then she called softly, “Annie, sister Annie, do you see any one coming?”

“I think I see a cloud of dust a little to the left.”

“Do you think it is my brothers?” said the wife.

“Alas, no, dear sister, it is only a shepherd boy with his sheep.”

“Will you come down now, madam, or shall I fetch you?” Bluebeard bawled out.

“I am coming,—­indeed I will come in just a minute.”

Then she called out for the last time, “Annie, sister Annie, do you see any one coming?”

“I see,” replied her sister, “two horsemen coming, but they are still a great way off.”

“Thank God,” cried the wife, “it is my brothers.  Urge them to make haste.”  Annie replied, “I am beckoning to them.  They have seen my signals.  They are galloping towards us.”