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Beard. They went from room to room, and from wardrobe to wardrobe, expressing fresh wonder and delight at every new object they came to; but their surprise was increased when they entered the drawing-rooms, and saw the grandeur of the furniture. In short, nothing could exceed the richness of what they saw, and they could not help admiring and envying the good fortune of their hostess.
On being told that every thing was ready, Fatima conducted for guests to the dining-room, where they sat down to a most magnificent repast, served up in dishes and covers of the finest gold. Music and other amusements succeeded, and the night was far advanced before the company left the castle.
During the day, Fatima was so much engaged, that she never once thought of the blue closet, which Blue Beard had given her such strict commands not to open; but when all the visitors were gone, and she had retired to her clamber, the restrictions that Blue Beard had put upon her not to examine the closet, raised her curiosity to know its contents to such a degree, as to be almost irresistible.
She took out the key, which was made of the finest gold, with several characters en-
