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〃I give you；〃 replied Blue Beard； 〃half a quarter of
an hour； but not one moment more。〃
When she was alone she called out to her sister； and
said to her：
〃Sister Anne〃 （for that was her name）； 〃go up； I beg
you； upon the top of the tower； and look if my brothers
are not coming over； they promised me that they would
come today； and if you see them； give them a sign to
make haste。〃
Her sister Anne went up upon the top of the tower； and
the poor afflicted wife cried out from time to time：
〃Anne； sister Anne； do you see anyone coming？〃
And sister Anne said：
〃I see nothing but the sun； which makes a dust； and
the grass； which looks green。〃
In the meanwhile Blue Beard； holding a great sabre
in his hand； cried out as loud as he could bawl to his
wife：
〃Come down instantly； or I shall come up to you。〃
〃One moment longer； if you please；〃 said his wife； and
then she cried out very softly； 〃Anne； sister Anne； dost
thou see anybody coming？〃
And sister Anne answered：
〃I see nothing but the sun； which makes a dust； and
the grass； which is green。〃
〃Come down quickly；〃 cried Blue Beard； 〃or I will
come up to you。〃
〃I am coming；〃 answered his wife； and then she cried；
〃Anne； sister Anne； dost thou not see anyone coming？〃
〃I see；〃 replied sister Anne； 〃a great dust； which comes
on this side here。〃
〃Are they my brothers？〃
〃Alas！ no； my dear sister； I see a flock of sheep。〃
〃Will you not come down？〃 cried Blue Beard
〃One moment longer；〃 said his wife； and then she
cried out： 〃Anne； sister Anne； dost thou see nobody coming？〃
〃I see；〃 said she； 〃two horsemen； but they are yet a
great way off。〃
〃God be praised；〃 replied the poor wife joyfully； 〃they
are my brothers； I will make them a sign； as well as I
can； for them to make haste。〃
Then Blue Beard bawled out so loud that he made the
whole house tremble。 The distressed wife came down；
and threw herself at his feet； all in tears； with her hair
about her shoulders。
〃This signifies nothing；〃 says Blue Beard； 〃you must
die〃； then； taking hold of her hair with one hand； and
lifting up the sword with the other； he was going to take
off her head。 The poor lady； turning about to him； and
looking at him with dying eyes； desired him to afford her
one little moment to recollect herself。
〃No； no；〃 said he； 〃recommend thyself to God；〃 and
was just ready to strike 。 。 。
At this very instant there was such a loud knocking
at the gate that Blue Beard made a sudden stop。 The
gate was opened； and presently entered two horsemen；
who； drawing their swords； ran directly to Blue Beard。
He knew them to be his wife's brothers； one a dragoon；
the other a musketeer； so that he ran away immediately
to save himself； but the two brothers pursued so
close that they overtook him before he could get to the
steps of the porch； when they ran their swords through
his body and left him dead。 The poor wife was almost
as dead as her husband； and had not strength enough
to rise and welcome her brothers。
Blue Beard had no heirs； and so his wife became
mistress of all his estate。 She made use of one part of it to
marry her sister Anne to a young gentleman who had
loved her a long while； another part to buy captains
commissions for her brothers； and the rest to marry
herself to a very worthy gentleman； who made her forget
the ill time she had passed with Blue Beard。＇1＇
＇1＇ Charles Perrault。