MadameForestierwentt-table，tookupalargebhtittoMadameLoisel，ope，andsaid:
"ydear。"
Firstshesawsomebracelets，thenapearlheiangoldandgems，ofexquisite。Shetriedtheeffectofthejewelsbeforethemirror，hesitatiomakeuphermihem，togivethemup。Shekeptonasking:
"Haven'tyoua;
"Yes。Lookforyourself。Idon'tknoouldlikebest。"
Suddenlyshedisablacase，asuperbdiamondnecklace;herheartbegaously。Herhandstrembledassheliftedit。Shefasteroundherneherhighdress，aasyatsightofherself。
&hhesitation，sheaskedinanguish:
"ethis，justthisalo;
"Yes，ofcourse。"
Sheflungherselfonherfriend'sbreast，embracedherfrenziedly，aawaywithhertreasure。Thedayofthepartyarrived。MadameLoiselwasasuccess。Sherettiestrese，graceful，smiling，andquiteaboveherselfihemeher，inquiredhername，aobeioher。AlltheUariesofStatewereeagertowaltzwithher。TheMiicedher。
Shedancedmadly，ecstatikwithpleasure，withnoth，iriumphofherbeauty，intheprideofhersuacloudofhappihisuniversalhomageandadmiration，ofthedesiresshehadaroused，ofthepletenessofavictorysodeartoherfemi。
&aboutfouro'them。Siherhusbandhadbeendoziedlittleroom，inpanywiththreeothermenerehavingagoodtime。Hethrewoverhersharmentshehadbroughtforthemtogohomeieverydayclothes，whosepovertyclashedwiththebeautyoftheball-dress。Shewassciousofthisandwasanxioustohurryaway，sothatsheshouldicedbytheotherwomenputtilyfurs。
&rainedher。
"Waitalittle。You'llcattheopen。I'mgoichacab。"
Butshedidohimandrapidlydesdedthestairtheywereoutiheyotfindacab;theybegantolookforoingatthedriverswhomtheysawpassiance。
TheyardstheSeiealasttheyfoundonthequayohoseoldnight-preswhilytobeseeninParisafterdark，asthoughtheywereashamedoftheirshabbihedaylight。
Itbroughtthemtotheirdooriyrs，andsadlytheytotheiroartment。Itwastheend，forher。Asforhim，hewasthinkibeattheoffi。Shetookoffthegarmentsinwhichshehadedhershoulders，soastoseeherselfinallherglorybeforethemirror。Butsuddeeredaecklaolongerroundherneck!
"os;sthematterwithyou?"askedherhusband，alreadyhalfundressed。
&owardshimidistress。
"I。。。I。。。I'veMadameForestier's;
&edwithasto。
"ossible!"
Theysearthefoldsofherdress，inthefoldsofherthepockets，everywhere。Theyotfindit。
"Areyousurethatyoustillhaditonwhenyoucameawayfromtheball?"heasked。
"Yes，ItouthehallattheMinistry。"
"Butifyouhadlostiti，weshouldhavehearditfall。"
"Yes。Probablyweshould。Didyoutakethehecab?"
"No。Youdidn't，didyou?"
"No。"
&aredatoher，dumbfouLoiselputonhisclothesagain。
"I'llgooverallthegroundwewalked，"hesaid，"andseeifIdit。"
A。Sheremainedihes，lagstreobed，huddledonachair，withoutvolitiohought。
Herhusbaseven。Hehadfoundnothing。
&hepoli，totheoofferareward，tothepahatarayofhopeimpelledhim。
&edalldayloateofbewildermentatthisfearfulcatastrophe。
Loiseleatnight，hisfaedandpale;hehaddisothing。
"Youmustwritetoyourfriend，"hesaid，"ayou'vebrokentheclaspofhernedaregettiwillgiveustimetolookaboutus。"
&hisdi。
Bytheeheyhadlostallhope。Loisel，whohadagedfiveyears，declared:"Wemustseeabthediamonds。"