dances and picnics, of hunting parties, of dinners;
there was really no time for sleep; there was such
splendour displayed in the house, such fertility of
resource in the master for their amusement, that
the company present thought they never had
enjoyed themselves more, and that after all, if the
owner of the place, and the giver of the festivities
had a blue beard, he had wealth enough to gild it;
and that a good deal might be forgiven a man who
had such plate, such a cook, such furniture, and
who dearly loved giving parties.
The youngest of the lady’s daughters considered
that it would be a very pleasant thing to be
mistress of so grand an establishment, and to be
looked up to by all the neighbourhood as the
person of most consequence therein.
She felt her aversion for Blue-beard decrease, and
finally consented to accept him. The entertain-
ments were now prolonged for another week, at
the end of which time a magnificent wedding took
place, to the great satisfaction of the young lady’s
mother, who thought she had disposed of her
daughter to the greatest possible advantage.
At the end of a month, Blue-beard told his wife
that business required him to absent himself for
six weeks or a month, and he begged her to
amuse herself as best she could during his absence.
She was to invite her friends to visit her, and to
entertain them.
‘Here,’ said he, ‘are the keys of two large linen-
chests; here are those of my plate-chest; here are
those of my money-boxes, and also of all my
jewels; and here is a key that opens all the doors
and cupboards throughout the house. You see
this little key? that pertains to the cabinet at the
end of the long picture gallery. You may open
any closet and cupboard and chamber throughout
my house, with the single exception of that little
cabinet. I strictly forbid you to enter of look in
L 161

BLUE.
BEARD