"I see two horsemen riding in this direction," Anne replied, "but they
are a great way off."
"They must be our brothers," Fatima said. "Heaven be praised! Oh, sign
to them to hasten!"
By this time the enraged Bluebeard was howling so loud for his wife to
come down that his voice shook the whole mansion. Fatima dared delay no
longer, and she descended to the great hall, threw herself at her wicked
husband's feet, and once more begged him to spare her life.
"Silence!" Bluebeard cried. "Your entreaties are wasted! You shall die!"
He seized her by the hair and raised his scimitar to strike. At that
moment a loud knocking was heard at the gates, and Bluebeard paused with
a look of alarm.
Anne had run down to let the brothers in, and they hurried to the hall,
flung open the door, and appeared with swords ready drawn in their
hands. They rushed at Bluebeard, and one rescued his sister from her
husband's grasp while the other gave the wretch a sword-thrust that put
an end to his life.
So the wicked Bluebeard perished, and Fatima became mistress of all his
riches. Part of her wealth she bestowed on her sister, Anne, and part on
her two brothers. The rest she retained herself, and presently she
married a man whose kind treatment helped her to forget her unfortunate
experience with Bluebeard.