But this man was so unlucky as to have a blue beard , which made him so frightfully ugly that all the women and girls ran away from him . One of his neighbors , a lady of quality , had two daughters who were perfect beauties . He desired of her one of them in marriage , leaving to her choice which of the two she would bestow on him . They would neither of them have him , and sent him backward and forward from one another , not being able to bear the thoughts of marrying a man who had a blue beard , and what besides gave them disgust and aversion was his having already been married to several wives , and nobody ever knew what became of them . Blue Beard , to engage their affection , took them , with the lady their mother and three or four ladies of their acquaintance , with other young people of the neighborhood , to one of his country seats , where they stayed a whole week . There was nothing then to be seen but parties of pleasure , hunting , fishing , dancing , mirth , and feasting . Nobody went to bed , but all passed the night in rallying and joking with each other . In short , everything succeeded so well that the youngest daughter began to think the master of the house not to have a beard so very blue , and that he was a mighty civil gentleman . As soon as they returned home , the marriage was concluded . About a month afterward , Blue Beard told his wife that he was obliged to take a country journey for six weeks at least , about affairs of very great consequence , desiring her to divert herself in his absence , to send for her friends and acquaintances , to carry them into the country , if she pleased , and to make good cheer wherever she was . `` Here , '' said he , `` are the keys of the two great wardrobes , wherein I have my best furniture ; these are of my silver and gold plate , which is not every day in use ; these open my strong boxes , which hold my money , both gold and silver ; these my caskets of jewels ; and this is the master-key to all my apartments . But for this little one here , it is the key of the closet at the end of the great gallery on the ground floor . Open them all ; go into all and every one of them , except that little closet , which I forbid you , and forbid it in such a manner that , if you happen to open it , there 's nothing but what you may expect from my just anger and resentment . '' She promised to observe , very exactly , whatever he had ordered ; when he , after having embraced her , got into his coach and proceeded on his journey . Her neighbors and good friends did not stay to be sent for by the new married lady , so great was their impatience to see all the rich furniture of her house , not daring to come while her husband was there , because of his blue beard , which frightened them . They ran through all the rooms , closets , and wardrobes , which were all so fine and rich that they seemed to surpass one another . After that they went up into the two great rooms , where was the best and richest furniture ; they could not sufficiently admire the number and beauty of the tapestry , beds , couches , cabinets , stands , tables , and looking-glasses , in which you might see yourself from head to foot ; some of them were framed with glass , others with silver , plain and gilded , the finest and most magnificent ever were seen . They ceased not to extol and envy the happiness of their friend , who in the meantime in no way diverted herself in looking upon all these rich things , because of the impatience she had to go and open the closet on the ground floor . She was so much pressed by her curiosity that , without considering that it was very uncivil to leave her company , she went down a little back staircase , and with such excessive haste that she had twice or thrice like to have broken her neck . Coming to the closet-door , she made a stop for some time , thinking upon her husband 's orders , and considering what unhappiness might attend her if she was disobedient ; but the temptation was so strong she could not overcome it .
She then took the little key , and opened it , trembling , but could not XXXXX first see anything plainly , because the windows were shut .
after as at except for from into to upon with