Don Quixote Volume 2, Chapter 39
The Countess, who has never removed her veil agrees to hurry her tale. The chaplain held up the secret marriage, which so upset the queen she died. Her first cousin, the giant Malambruno came and avenged her death by turning the daughter into a bronze monkey and the husband into a green crocodile. There they sit on the queen's tomb separated by a column stating that they will stay this way until Don Quijote of La Mancha comes and fights the giant. But Malambruno's anger did not end there. He punished The Countess and all the ladies in waiting in the court by inflicting them with beards. They now remove their veils and reveal their bearded faces.