The Popular Story of Blue Beard
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for theappearance of her brothers, at the moment she expected certain death,had thrown her into a faint, which continued during the whole of thetime they were engaged in despatching her husband.
The two young officers now turned their attention to their sister, whomthey raised from the ground; but she could hardly be persuaded of hersafety, till they pointed to where Blue Beard lay extended and lifeless.
Fatima, on recovering a little, tenderly embraced her deliverers; andthe appearance of their sister Anne, who had come down from the top ofthe battlements, added to their happiness.
As all those horrid murders which had been committed by Blue Beard, wereunknown to his domestics, on whose credulity he imposed by falsehoods,which they had no means of detecting, Fatima and her brothers thoughtthe most prudent way to act, was to assemble them together, and thendisclose the wickedness of their late master.
By the direction of Fatima, her two brothers conducted all the servantsto the dreadful scene of her husband's cruelties, and then showing themhis dead body, related the whole occurrences which had taken place. Theyall said that his punishment was not adequate to what he deserved, andbegged that they might be continued in the service of their mistress.
As Blue Beard had no relations, Fatima was sole heir to the whole of hisimmense property, and mistress of the castle, in the possession of whichshe was confirmed by the laws of the country. She then sent notice toall the families in the neighbourhood of the death of her husband, andthe horrid proofs of his cruelty were laid open for two days to all whochose to inspect them. He was then buried privately, along with all thebodies of the ladies he had murdered, and the fatal closet underwent acomplete repair, which removed every trace of his barbarity.
Soon after this, Fatima gave a magnificent entertainment to all herfriends, where happiness was seen in every face; and on this occasionthe poor, who were assembled for many miles round, partook mostliberally of her bounty.
Though possessed of riches almost inexhaustible, Fatima disposed of themwith so much discretion, that she gained the esteem of every one whoknew her. She bestowed handsome fortunes on her two brothers; and to hersister, who was married about two months after, she gave a very largedowry.
The beauty, riches, and amiable conduct of Fatima, attracted a numberof admirers, and among others, a young nobleman of very high rank, who,to a handsome person, added every quality calculated to make a goodhusband; and after a reasonable time spent in courtship, their marriagewas celebrated with great rejoicings.
FINIS
Transcriber's Note: On page 12 the word themsevles is now themselves.