I gave her everything her heart could desire. A beautiful home, clothes, jewels, strong boxes full of money, and mirrors in which to admire herself. She had the master key to all my apartments except one. I forbid her to use the little key that opened the closet at the end of the gallery on the ground floor. I made it clear to her that if she disobeyed me, she could expect nothing from me but rage.

When I came home from my journey, I ordered her to show me the key. There was blood on it. She had not been able to resist the temptation! She begged me to show pity, but she had seen what was in the room, and she had to die.

Bluebeard in Bluebeard, Blue Fairy Book. Illustration by Charles Robinson.