Bluebeard

Once there was a very rich man whose beard was a strange, shining blue. People called him Bluebeard. His houses were grand, his closets were full of silks and silver, and his stables held the finest horses. But everyone whispered that his wives kept disappearing. Some said he was unlucky. Others felt a chill when they saw that blue beard and wondered what secrets he kept.

Bluebeard lived near a lady who had two daughters. He asked to marry one of them. Both sisters were frightened at first because of his odd beard and the rumors about him. To show he could be kind, Bluebeard invited the family to his country house for a whole week. He threw picnics under the trees and dances by candlelight. He told funny stories and gave little gifts. By the end of the visit, the younger sister, who was bright and curious, thought, Perhaps he is not so bad, and agreed to marry him.

For a time, they lived quietly. Bluebeard treated his new wife with fine dinners and friendly words. Then, one day, he said, "I must travel for a while. Here are the keys to all my rooms. Enjoy everything. Invite your friends. See my treasures!" On the ring of keys was one small key, a little one that gleamed like a drop of water. Bluebeard tapped it and added, "This opens the small closet at the end of the long hall upstairs. You may not open that door. If you do, I will be very angry." His wife promised to obey. He kissed her hand and rode away.

As soon as he left, the young wife invited her sister, Sister Anne, and their friends to visit. They walked through fine rooms with painted ceilings and carpets as soft as moss. There were mirrors as tall as the wall, dishes of gold, and cabinets filled with jewels. The friends laughed and clapped their hands, and for a while the bride forgot the small key in her pocket. But when the guests were busy tasting cakes and admiring gowns, her promise tugged at her heart. She thought, What harm can it do to look for a moment? No one will know. Quietly, she slipped away, climbed to the end of the long hall, and stood before the small door.

Her hand shook. Still, she put the tiny key into the lock. The door opened with a small sigh. Inside it was dim and cold. At first she saw nothing clearly. Then she stared—and gasped. Lying within the room were the women who had been Bluebeard’s wives before her, silent and still. The floor was stained dark. Fear flooded her. She dropped the little key. It landed with a tap and a tiny splash. Heart hammering, she grabbed it, fled the room, and turned the key in the lock with trembling fingers. Downstairs, she ran to a basin and washed the key. She scrubbed and scrubbed. But no matter how she rubbed, the dark mark would not come off. It was as if the key itself remembered what it had seen.

That very evening, Bluebeard returned sooner than expected. "How happy I am to find you well!" he said, smiling with his blue beard shining. He asked for the keys. She handed them all over, except the small one, which she hid in her pocket. "And the little key?" he said softly. "Bring me that one too." She turned pale and gave it to him, hoping he would not notice. But he did. He saw the dark stain and his face hardened. "You went into the room," he said. "You broke your promise. Now you must go there too, as the others did." The young wife fell at his feet and begged, "Please, give me a little time to pray and to say goodbye to my sister." Bluebeard paused, then said, "You have one quarter of an hour, not a minute more."

She ran to the highest tower where Sister Anne stood watching the countryside. Before Bluebeard had left for his trip, the young wife had secretly sent word to her two brothers, both brave soldiers, asking them to visit that day. Now she gripped Anne’s hand and whispered, "Sister Anne, Sister Anne, do you see anyone coming?" Anne shaded her eyes. "I see nothing but the sun that shines and the grass that grows." The minutes seemed to tick louder and louder. Footsteps sounded on the stairs below. "Sister Anne, Sister Anne, do you see anyone coming?" "I see a cloud of dust," Anne said, "but I cannot tell if it is riders or wind." The footsteps came closer. Bluebeard called up, "Your time is done!" The young wife’s voice shook. "Sister Anne, Sister Anne, do you see anyone coming?" Anne leaned out as far as she dared. "Yes! I see two riders, their armor bright in the sun. They are galloping hard. I think they are our brothers!"

Bluebeard burst into the room with his sword drawn. "Come down," he roared. "Now!" The young wife knelt and begged, "Only one more moment!" Bluebeard lifted his sword. Just then, the door below thundered open. Boots pounded on the stairs. With a shout, the two brothers rushed in, swords flashing. They leaped between their sister and Bluebeard. There was a fierce clash of steel. Bluebeard was strong and wild, but he was alone, and his cruel deeds had led him here. In a moment, he was struck down. He would harm no one ever again.

The young wife was saved. Because Bluebeard had no heirs, she inherited all his houses, fields, and treasures. She used the wealth kindly. She gave a dowry to her older sister, who soon married a good man. She helped her brothers become officers and honored soldiers. Later, when her heart felt steady again, she married a gentle husband who spoke truth and kept his promises. She and Sister Anne often walked in the sunshine together and never forgot how courage, clear thinking, and help from family had carried them through a very dark door.