BLUEBARD

"A la bonne heure," he cried, when I signified that I really could take no

more, and, with uplifted hands, implored to be spared the additional roll on

which he had just spread butter. "You will set me down as a species of

tyrant and Bluebeard, starving women in a garret; whereas, after all, I am

no such thing. Now, Mademoiselle, do you feel courage and strength to

appear?"

I said, I thought I did; though, in truth, I was perfectly confused, and

could hardly tell how I felt: but this little man was of the order of beings

who must not be opposed, unless you possessed an all-dominant force suffi-

cient to crush him at once.

"Come then," said he, offering his hand.

I gave him mine, and he set off with a rapid walk, which obliged me to

run at his side in order to keep pace. In the carré he stopped a moment: it