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sufficient resolution to snatch up the key, and leave this abode of horror and dismay. Almost without knowing what she did, from the agitated state of her mind, she closed the door behind her, and locked it.
As she went up stairs, her imagination conjured up the ghosts of these murdered ladies to her view, and, a faintness coming over her, she was obliged for a few moments to lean against the bannister, to regain strength enough to reach her sister's chamber, to where she related the whole of her horrid adventure.
On her sister inquiring, if she locked the door, Fatima produced the key, but it was all covered with blood, and they both turned pale with fear. They spent a great part of the night in trying to clean off the blood from the key, which was the only evidence of Fatima's imprudecne; but it was without effect; for though they washed and scoured it with brick-dust and sand, no sooner was the blood removed from one side than it appeared on the other. Fatigued with their exertions, they at last retired to bed; but the wretched Fatima, who could not sleep, lay ruminating on the awful scene she had gone through, and devising means for escaping the vengeance of the cruel Blue Beard.
