BLUE-
BEARD

BLUE-BEARD

a|HERE lived, once on a time, a man
who had very fine town houses, and
also country residences, magnificent
plate, furniture in the latest style,
gilded coaches, and a cook who sent
him up every day a dinner of six
courses every day different from what
had been. Unfortunately for him he had a blue
beard. This made him so hideous and frightful,
that there was not a woman or girl who did not
run away when he appeared.
One of his neighbours, a lady of quality, but very
poor, had two daughters of the most amiable dis-
positions, and both very lovely.
The man with the blue beard asked for one in
marriage, and left the choice to their mother.
Neither would hear of taking him because of his
blue beard. Moreover, it was commonly reported
that he had had several wives, and no one could
say exactly what had become of them.
Biue-beard invited the lady with her daughters to
visit him in one of his country places. He at the
same time asked many of the neighbours there,
and he gave entertainments in succession for a
week. There was one uninterrupted series of
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