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"I&aos;mutterlymiserableatnothavinganyjewels,notasinglestone,towear,
"sherelied.
"Ishalllookabsolutelynoone.Iwouldalmostrathernotgotothearty.
"
"Wearflowers,
"hesaid.
"They&aos;reverysmartatthistimeoftheyear.Fortenfrancsyoucouldgettwoorthreegorgeousroses.
"
Shewasnotconvinced.
"No...there&aos;snothingsohumiliatingaslookingoorinthemiddleofalotofrichwomen.
"
"Howstuidyouare!
"exclaimedherhusband,
"GoandseeMadameForestierandaskhertolendyousomejewels.Youknowherquitewellenoughforthat.
"
Sheutteredacryofdelight.
"That&aos;strue.Ineverthoughtofit.
"
Nextdayshewenttoseeherfriendandtoldherhertrouble.
MadameForestierwenttoherdressing-table,tookualargebox,broughtittoMadameLoisel,oenedit,andsaid:
"Choose,mydear.
"
Firstshesawsomebracelets,thenaearlnecklace,thenaVenetiancrossingoldandgems,ofexquisiteworkmanshi.Shetriedtheeffectofthejewelsbeforethemirror,hesitating,unabletomakeuhermindtoleavethem,togivethemu.Sheketonasking:
"Haven&aos;tyouanythingelse?
"
"Yes.Lookforyourself.Idon&aos;tknowwhatyouwouldlikebest.
"
Suddenlyshediscovered,inablacksatincase,asuerbdiamondnecklace;herheartbegantobeatcovetously.Herhandstrembledassheliftedit.Shefasteneditroundherneck,uonherhighdress,andremainedinecstasyatsightofherself.
Then,withhesitation,sheaskedinanguish:
"Couldyoulendmethis,justthisalone?
"
"Yes,ofcourse.
"
Sheflungherselfonherfriend&aos;sbreast,embracedherfrenziedly,andwentawaywithhertreasure.Thedayoftheartyarrived.MadameLoiselwasasuccess.Shewastherettiestwomanresent,elegant,graceful,smiling,andquiteaboveherselfwithhainess.Allthemenstaredather,inquiredhername,andaskedtobeintroducedtoher.AlltheUnder-SecretariesofStatewereeagertowaltzwithher.TheMinisternoticedher.
Shedancedmadly,ecstatically,drunkwithleasure,withnothoughtforanything,inthetriumhofherbeauty,intherideofhersuccess,inacloudofhainessmadeuofthisuniversalhomageandadmiration,ofthedesiresshehadaroused,ofthecomletenessofavictorysodeartoherfeminineheart.
Sheleftaboutfouro&aos;clockinthemorning.Sincemidnightherhusbandhadbeendozinginadesertedlittleroom,incomanywiththreeothermenwhosewiveswerehavingagoodtime.Hethrewoverhershouldersthegarmentshehadbroughtforthemtogohomein,modesteverydayclothes,whoseovertyclashedwiththebeautyoftheball-dress.Shewasconsciousofthisandwasanxioustohurryaway,sothatsheshouldnotbenoticedbytheotherwomenuttingontheircostlyfurs.
Loiselrestrainedher.
"Waitalittle.You&aos;llcatchcoldintheoen.I&aos;mgoingtofetchacab.
"
Butshedidnotlistentohimandraidlydescendedthestaircase.Whentheywereoutinthstreettheycouldnotfindacab;theybegantolookforone,shoutingatthedriverswhomtheysawassinginthedistance.
TheywalkeddowntowardstheSeine,deserateandshivering.Atlasttheyfoundonthequayoneofthoseoldnight-rowlingcarriageswhichareonlytobeseeninParisafterdark,asthoughtheywereashamedoftheirshabbinessinthedaylight.
ItbroughtthemtotheirdoorintheRuedesMartyrs,andsadlytheywalkedutotheirownaartment.Itwastheend,forher.Asforhim,hewasthinkingthathemustbeattheofficeatten.Shetookoffthegarmentsinwhichshehadwraedhershoulders,soastoseeherselfinallherglorybeforethemirror.Butsuddenlysheutteredacry.Thenecklacewasnolongerroundherneck!
"What&aos;sthematterwithyou?
"askedherhusband,alreadyhalfundressed.
Sheturnedtowardshimintheuttermostdistress.