I had no sooner lain down to rest that evening before I first felt it. I attempted to readjust my position in my bed whilst lying there, but alas, no matter where I moved, I still felt the finger prodding my back from beneath my mattress. The bare bony extremity relentlessly pointed towards me, as if to charge me of my crime. Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty. It would not rest until I paid the price, but much too clever am I to allow such an adversary to thwart me! I rang for a servant.

"My lady? What troubles you at such a late hour?" asked the maid, who entered my room with a single lighted candle.

"I need another mattress. The one I lie upon feels too uncomfortable. I require another to put atop it immediately," I ordered.

"Comme vous voulez, madame," she replied.

She left the room and returned what felt like hours later with a few butlers carrying a mattress. I climbed out of my bed and the men placed the mattress on top of it. The maid dressed it with sheets and blankets, and then I told them to leave my chambers. I went back to bed and resumed my feeble attempt at slumber. My eyes closed, and I assumed that the cold digit would no longer plague me. As I drifted off into my respite, I felt the finger again. I quickly called for the maid once more. I fervently ordered for another mattress and waited for her return. The process repeated several more times before I could assure myself that the heinous hand could no longer harm me. The mattresses approached the ceiling, and I required a ladder to climb onto my bed. I awaited the relief that slumber would bestow upon me, yet I still felt the jab of the finger, accosting me for my sin. I endeavored to wait out the night, but mon Dieu, I could bear it no longer!

"Maid! Maid!" I cried. She came rushing into my room again.

"Yes, votre majesté? What do you require?" She warily questioned.

"Bring me another mattress! Another! Another!" I screeched.

"My queen, I fear that -"

"I do not care - bring me more mattresses or I shall have your head for treason! Allez!" I commanded.

She scurried from the scene and returned with what I requested. Once the servants had laid the final one, they helped me reach the top of my tower of sleep. I told them to wait until I felt safe, and they stood there with baited breath. They knew not what I feared or why I feared it. I struggled to regain my comfort, but at last I could no longer feel the forefinger! I let out a sigh of relief - a moment too soon.

"No, no, no, no, no! It is still there - it is still there! I can never escape; I will never escape its horrible accusation! You do not understand! I did what I had to do! She deserved it, I swear!" I screamed as I tumbled off of the bed. A butler caught me and held me tight as I squirmed in his grasp.

"Your majesty, what ails you? Who deserved what?" he questioned.

"THE PRINCESS!" I wailed, "She would have taken everything from me! The throne, my son, my castle! I would not let her have it! I poisoned her! I poisoned her and now she lies buried underneath the floorboards of my bed! I can stand it no longer; she accuses me from beyond the grave! Dig her out - dig her out and take her away from me!"

The servant holding me began pulling me out of the room. The others lifted the mattresses off of the bed to see if anything truly laid under there, and as they removed the final one, I watched - in a silent horror - a single pale pea plunge onto the frigid floor.