necklace 項鏈

Mathilde Loisel was one of those poor girls， pretty，charming and romantic，who，in spite of their romantic dreams，are married to a mediocrity.Her husband was a clerk in the Ministry of Education.

One evening her husband came home with an air of triumph.

“I have something nice for you，”he said，giving her a large envelope.

She tore open the envelope，which contained the following printed card：

“The Minister of Education and Madame Georges Ramponneau have the honour to request the company of Monsieur and Madame Loisel at the office of the Ministry on Monday evening，January 18th.”

She did not seem delighted.On the contrary，she flung the invitation card on the table，and said spitefully：

“What’s that to me?”

“Why，my dear，I thought you’d be pleased.You like a dance，don’t you?You hardly ever go out，and this is really a good chance for you.I had no end of trouble to get it.Every one wants it，you know.All the officials will be there，but only a few clerks are invited.”

She looked at him ruefully and exclaimed：

“What do you expect me to wear at a party like that?”

It never occurred to him that she had no pretty dresses nor jewels.He replied hesitatingly：

“Why，the dress you wear when you go to the theatre looks very nice to me.”

She burst into tears.Why did she marry such a dull，stupid fellow?Only because she was born into a poor family.Oh，cruel trick of destiny!

“What’s the matter?”he asked anxiously.

“Nothing，”she answered with an effort.“It’s only that I haven’t a suitable dress，and so I can’t go to the ball.Give this card to a friend of yours whose wife has a better wardrobe than I.”

It was a heart-breaking confession.

“Come，Mathilde，my dearest，”the distressed husband said，“how much do you think it would cost to have a proper dress，something rather simple which would be useful for other occasions after- wards?”

She thought for a moment，busy with her calculations.How much could she ask without shocking the thrifty husband and provoking a flat refusal?

“I’m not sure， but I think I could manage with four hundred francs.”

The husband turned a little pale.She had named the exact sum he had saved to buy a gun to enjoy shooting on the plain of Nanterre next summer with a few friends.

But he replied：

“All right.You shall have four hundred francs.Mind you get a really nice dress.”

The day of the ball drew near.Although Madame Loisel had got her coveted dress， she seemed far from pleased.

“What is the matter?”her husband asked.

“You look out of sorts these days.”

“It’s quite annoying to think that I haven’t a single piece of jewellery to wear.I might as well stay at home as cut a miserable figure at the party，”she answered.

“How about wearing natural flowers，then?”her husband suggested.“They are now quite in fashion.For ten francs you can get two or three splendid roses.”

“Where did you get such a silly idea?”she replied.“Can’t you see how miserable I’d look among rich women?”

“Well then，”her husband said.“Why don’t you go and ask your friend，Madame Forestier，to lend you some jewels?She is a good friend of yours，and has a lot of jewellery，hasn’t she?”

“Yes，of course，”she exclaimed in delight.“Why didn’t I think of it?”

The next day she called on Madame Forestier and explained her trouble.Madame Forestier went to her wardrobe，took out a large jewel case，and placed it open in front of her friend.

“Take what you want，my dear，”she said.

Madame Loisel first saw some bracelets，then a pearl necklace，then a Venetian gold cross set with jewels，an exquisite piece of magnificent workmanship.She tried them on，one after another，before the mirror，uncertain which to choose.

“Have you any more?”she asked.

“Oh，yes，look for yourself.I don’t know what you would like best.”

Suddenly Madame Loisel discovered a black satin case，in which lay a superb diamond neck-lace.Her heart beat fast.With trembling hands， she took it out，fastened it round her neck，and stood gazing at herself in the mirror，lost in admiration.

She asked fearfully：

“Would you lend me this?I don’t think I need anything else.”

“Why，yes，certainly.”

Madame Loisel threw her arms round her friend’s neck， kissed her，and hurried out，lest her friend should change her mind.

The night of the ball came at last.Madame Loisel was a brilliant success.She looked more beautiful than any other woman present.Triumphantly，full of grace and joy，she danced admirably，aware of the rapt eyes of the company.All the men inquired her name，wanted to be introduced，asked her for waltzes.She attracted the attention of even the minister him- self.

She felt as if she were in a beautiful dream，intoxicated with happiness.Oh，how long she had been yearning for such a moment!

It was about four in the morning before she could tear herself away from the ball.Her husband had been dozing since midnight in a little deserted drawing room with three other gentlemen whose wives were enjoying the dance.

He threw round her shoulders her cloak for everyday wear，which looked strangely incongruous with her elegant ball dress，and anxious to escape the eyes of the other women in rich furs，she hurried down the staircase.

No cab was to be seen in the street，and，shivering with cold，they trudged on towards the Seine.At last，on the quay，they found an old，rickety cab rarely seen in Paris in the daytime.On reaching their dwelling，they climbed the stairs to their flat in gloomy silence.

She took off her garment before the mirror.She wanted to enjoy one more glance at herself， decked in all her glory.Suddenly she cried out in horror.

“What is the matter?”her husband asked.He was already half undressed;he had to be at the office by ten the next day.

She turned to him，like one mad.

“The diamond necklace is gone!”

“What?How?Impossible!”

They searched the folds of her skirt and cloak， her pockets，everywhere;but the necklace was nowhere to be seen.

“You had it on when you left the ball?”

“Yes，I remember fingering it in the vestibule.”

“If you had dropped it in the street，we should have heard the sound.You must have lost it in the cab.”

“Probably，did you notice the number?”

“No，I didn’t.”

They gazed at each other in consternation.

“I’ll go back all over the road and try to find it.”