BLUE BFARD. 57
indeed, was her desire to do this, that, without once thinking
how rude it would be to leave her guests, she slipped away
down a private staircase that led to this forbidden closet, and
in such a hurry, that she was two or three times in danger of
falling down stairs and breaking her neck.

When she reached the door of the closet, she stopped for a
few moments to think of the order her husband had given her ;
and how he had told her that he would not fail to keep his
word, and punish her very severely, if she did not obey him.
But she was so very curious to know what was inside, that she
made up her mind to venture in spite of everything. She
then, with a trembling hand, put the key into the lock, and the
door straight flew open. As the window-shutters were closed,

 

she at first could see nothing ; but, in a short time, she saw that
the floor was covered with clotted blood, in which the bodies of
several dead women were lying.