TheNecklace

GuydeMaupassant

Shewasoneofthoseprettyandcharminggirlsborn,asthoughfatehadblunderedoverher,
intoafamilyofartisans.Shehadnomarriageportion,noexpectations,nomeansofgetting
known,understood,loved,andweddedbyamanofwealthanddistinctionandsheletherself
bemarriedofftoalittleclerkintheMinistryofEducation.Hertastesweresimplebecauseshe
hadneverbeenabletoaffordanyother,butshewasasunhappyasthoughshehadmarried
beneathherforwomenhavenocasteorclass,theirbeauty,grace,andcharmservingthemfor
birthorfamily,theirnaturaldelicacy,theirinstinctiveelegance,theirnimblenessofwit,aretheir
onlymarkofrank,andputtheslumgirlonalevelwiththehighestladyintheland.

Shesufferedendlessly,feelingherselfbornforeverydelicacyandluxury.Shesuffered
fromthepoornessofherhouse,fromitsmeanwalls,wornchairs,anduglycurtains.Allthese
things,ofwhichotherwomenofherclasswouldnotevenhavebeenaware,tormentedand
insultedher.ThesightofthelittleBretongirlwhocametodotheworkinherlittlehouse
arousedheartbrokenregretsandhopelessdreamsinhermind.Sheimaginedsilent
antechambers,heavywithOrientaltapestries,litbytorchesinloftybronzesockets,withtwotall
footmeninkneebreechessleepinginlargearmchairs,overcomebytheheavywarmthofthe
stove.Sheimaginedvastsaloonshungwithantiquesilks,exquisitepiecesoffurniture
supportingpricelessornaments,andsmall,charming,perfumedrooms,createdjustforlittle
partiesofintimatefriends,menwhowerefamousandsoughtafter,whosehomageroused
everyotherwoman'senviouslongings.

Whenshesatdownfordinnerattheroundtablecoveredwithathreedaysoldcloth,
oppositeherhusband,whotookthecoveroffthesouptureen,exclaimingdelightedly:"Aha!
Scotchbroth!Whatcouldbebetter?"sheimagineddelicatemeals,gleamingsilver,tapestries
peoplingthewallswithfolkofapastageandstrangebirdsinfaeryforestssheimagined
delicatefoodservedinmarvellousdishes,murmuredgallantries,listenedtowithaninscrutable
smileasonetrifledwiththerosyfleshoftroutorwingsofasparaguschicken.
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Shehadnoclothes,nojewels,nothing.Andtheseweretheonlythingsshelovedshe
feltthatshewasmadeforthem.Shehadlongedsoeagerlytocharm,tobedesired,tobewildly
attractiveandsoughtafter.

Shehadarichfriend,anoldschoolfriendwhomsherefusedtovisit,becauseshe
sufferedsokeenlywhenshereturnedhome.Shewouldweepwholedays,withgrief,regret,
despair,andmisery.
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Oneeveningherhusbandcamehomewithanexultantair,holdingalargeenvelopeinhishand.

"Here'ssomethingforyou,"hesaid.

Swiftlyshetorethepaperanddrewoutaprintedcardonwhichwerethesewords:

"TheMinisterofEducationandMadameRamponneaurequestthepleasureofthe
companyofMonsieurandMadameLoiselattheMinistryontheeveningofMonday,January
the18th."


Insteadofbeingdelighted,asherhusbandhoped,sheflungtheinvitationpetulantly
acrossthetable,murmuring:

"Whatdoyouwantmetodowiththis?"

"Why,darling,Ithoughtyou'dbepleased.Younevergoout,andthisisagreatoccasion.
Ihadtremendoustroubletogetit.Everyonewantsoneit'sveryselect,andveryfewgotothe
clerks.You'llseeallthereallybigpeoplethere."

Shelookedathimoutoffuriouseyes,andsaidimpatiently:"AndwhatdoyousupposeI
amtowearatsuchanaffair?"

Hehadnotthoughtaboutithestammered:

"Why,thedressyougotothetheatrein.Itlooksverynice,tome..."

Hestopped,stupefiedandutterlyatalosswhenhesawthathiswifewasbeginningto
cry.Twolargetearsranslowlydownfromthecornersofhereyestowardsthecornersofher
mouth.
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"What'sthematterwithyou?What'sthematterwithyou?"hefaltered.

Butwithaviolenteffortsheovercamehergriefandrepliedinacalmvoice,wipingher
wetcheeks:

"Nothing.OnlyIhaven'tadressandsoIcan'tgotothisparty.Giveyourinvitationto
somefriendofyourswhosewifewillbeturnedoutbetterthanIshall."

Hewasheartbroken.

"Lookhere,Mathilde,"hepersisted."Whatwouldbethecostofasuitabledress,which
youcoulduseonotheroccasionsaswell,somethingverysimple?"

Shethoughtforseveralseconds,reckoninguppricesandalsowonderingforhowlarge
asumshecouldaskwithoutbringinguponherselfanimmediaterefusalandanexclamationof
horrorfromthecarefulmindedclerk.

Atlastsherepliedwithsomehesitation:

"Idon'tknowexactly,butIthinkIcoulddoitonfourhundredfrancs."

Hegrewslightlypale,forthiswasexactlytheamounthehadbeensavingforagun,
intendingtogetalittleshootingnextsummerontheplainofNanterrewithsomefriendswho
wentlarkshootingthereonSundays.

Neverthelesshesaid:"Verywell.I'llgiveyoufourhundredfrancs.Buttryandgetareally
nicedresswiththemoney."

Thedayofthepartydrewnear,andMadameLoiselseemedsad,uneasyandanxious.
Herdresswasready,however.Oneeveningherhusbandsaidtoher:

"What'sthematterwithyou?You'vebeenveryoddforthelastthreedays."

"I'mutterlymiserableatnothavinganyjewels,notasinglestone,towear,"shereplied.
"Ishalllookabsolutelynoone.Iwouldalmostrathernotgototheparty."
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"Wearflowers,"hesaid."They'reverysmartatthistimeoftheyear.Fortenfrancsyou
couldgettwoorthreegorgeousroses."

Shewasnotconvinced.

"No...there'snothingsohumiliatingaslookingpoorinthemiddleofalotofrich
women."

"Howstupidyouare!"exclaimedherhusband."GoandseeMadameForestierandask
hertolendyousomejewels.Youknowherquitewellenoughforthat."

Sheutteredacryofdelight.

"That'strue.Ineverthoughtofit."

Nextdayshewenttoseeherfriendandtoldherhertrouble.

MadameForestierwenttoherdressingtable,tookupalargebox,broughtittoMadame
Loisel,openedit,andsaid:

"Choose,mydear."

Firstshesawsomebracelets,thenapearlnecklace,thenaVenetiancrossingoldand
gems,ofexquisiteworkmanship.Shetriedtheeffectofthejewelsbeforethemirror,hesitating,
unabletomakeuphermindtoleavethem,togivethemup.Shekeptonasking:

"Haven'tyouanythingelse?"

"Yes.Lookforyourself.Idon'tknowwhatyouwouldlikebest."

Suddenlyshediscovered,inablacksatincase,asuperbdiamondnecklaceherheart
begantobeatcovetously.Herhandstrembledassheliftedit.Shefasteneditroundherneck,
uponherhighdress,andremainedinecstasyatsightofherself.

Then,withhesitation,sheaskedinanguish:

"Couldyoulendmethis,justthisalone?"

"Yes,ofcourse."

Sheflungherselfonherfriend'sbreast,embracedherfrenziedly,andwentawaywith
hertreasure.Thedayofthepartyarrived.MadameLoiselwasasuccess.Shewastheprettiest
womanpresent,elegant,graceful,smiling,andquiteaboveherselfwithhappiness.Allthemen
staredather,inquiredhername,andaskedtobeintroducedtoher.AlltheUnderSecretariesof
Statewereeagertowaltzwithher.TheMinisternoticedher.
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Shedancedmadly,ecstatically,drunkwithpleasure,withnothoughtforanything,inthe
triumphofherbeauty,intheprideofhersuccess,inacloudofhappinessmadeupofthis
universalhomageandadmiration,ofthedesiresshehadaroused,ofthecompletenessofa
victorysodeartoherfeminineheart.

Sheleftaboutfouro'clockinthemorning.Sincemidnightherhusbandhadbeendozing
inadesertedlittleroom,incompanywiththreeothermenwhosewiveswerehavingagood
time.Hethrewoverhershouldersthegarmentshehadbroughtforthemtogohomein,modest
everydayclothes,whosepovertyclashedwiththebeautyoftheballdress.Shewasconscious
ofthisandwasanxioustohurryaway,sothatsheshouldnotbenoticedbytheotherwomen
puttingontheircostlyfurs.

Loiselrestrainedher.

"Waitalittle.You'llcatchcoldintheopen.I'mgoingtofetchacab."

Butshedidnotlistentohimandrapidlydescendedthestaircase.Whentheywereoutin
thestreettheycouldnotfindacabtheybegantolookforone,shoutingatthedriverswhom
theysawpassinginthedistance.

TheywalkeddowntowardstheSeine,desperateandshivering.Atlasttheyfoundonthe
quayoneofthoseoldnightprowlingcarriageswhichareonlytobeseeninParisafterdark,as
thoughtheywereashamedoftheirshabbinessinthedaylight.

ItbroughtthemtotheirdoorintheRuedesMartyrs,andsadlytheywalkeduptotheir
ownapartment.Itwastheend,forher.Asforhim,hewasthinkingthathemustbeattheoffice
atten.

Shetookoffthegarmentsinwhichshehadwrappedhershoulders,soastoseeherself
inallherglorybeforethemirror.Butsuddenlysheutteredacry.Thenecklacewasnolonger
roundherneck!
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"What'sthematterwithyou?"askedherhusband,alreadyhalfundressed.

Sheturnedtowardshimintheutmostdistress.

"I...I...I'venolongergotMadameForestier'snecklace...."

Hestartedwithastonishment.

"What!...Impossible!"

Theysearchedinthefoldsofherdress,inthefoldsofthecoat,inthepockets,
everywhere.Theycouldnotfindit.

"Areyousurethatyoustillhaditonwhenyoucameawayfromtheball?"heasked.

"Yes,ItoucheditinthehallattheMinistry."

"Butifyouhadlostitinthestreet,weshouldhavehearditfall."

"Yes.Probablyweshould.Didyoutakethenumberofthecab?"

"No.Youdidn'tnoticeit,didyou?"

"No."

Theystaredatoneanother,dumbfounded.AtlastLoiselputonhisclothesagain.

"I'llgooverallthegroundwewalked,"hesaid,"andseeifIcan'tfindit."

Andhewentout.Sheremainedinhereveningclothes,lackingstrengthtogetintobed,
huddledonachair,withoutvolitionorpowerofthought.

Herhusbandreturnedaboutseven.Hehadfoundnothing.

Hewenttothepolicestation,tothenewspapers,toofferareward,tothecab
companies,everywherethatarayofhopeimpelledhim.

Shewaitedalldaylong,inthesamestateofbewildermentatthisfearfulcatastrophe.

Loiselcamehomeatnight,hisfacelinedandpalehehaddiscoverednothing.
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"Youmustwritetoyourfriend,"hesaid,"andtellherthatyou'vebrokentheclaspofher
necklaceandaregettingitmended.Thatwillgiveustimetolookaboutus."

Shewroteathisdictation.
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Bytheendofaweektheyhadlostallhope.

Loisel,whohadagedfiveyears,declared:

"Wemustseeaboutreplacingthediamonds."

Nextdaytheytooktheboxwhichhadheldthenecklaceandwenttothejewellerswhose
namewasinside.Heconsultedhisbooks.

"ItwasnotIwhosoldthisnecklace,MadameImusthavemerelysuppliedtheclasp."

Thentheywentfromjewellertojeweller,searchingforanothernecklacelikethefirst,
consultingtheirmemories,bothillwithremorseandanguishofmind.

InashopatthePalaisRoyaltheyfoundastringofdiamondswhichseemedtothem
exactlyliketheonetheywerelookingfor.Itwasworthfortythousandfrancs.Theywereallowed
tohaveitforthirtysixthousand.

Theybeggedthejewellernottosellitforthreedays.Andtheyarrangedmattersonthe
understandingthatitwouldbetakenbackforthirtyfourthousandfrancs,ifthefirstonewere
foundbeforetheendofFebruary.


Loiselpossessedeighteenthousandfrancslefttohimbyhisfather.Heintendedto
borrowtherest.

Hedidborrowit,gettingathousandfromoneman,fivehundredfromanother,fivelouis
here,threelouisthere.Hegavenotesofhand,enteredintoruinousagreements,didbusiness
withusurersandthewholetribeofmoneylenders.Hemortgagedthewholeremainingyearsof
hisexistence,riskedhissignaturewithoutevenknowingifhecouldhonourit,and,appalledat
theagonisingfaceofthefuture,attheblackmiseryabouttofalluponhim,attheprospectof
everypossiblephysicalprivationandmoraltorture,hewenttogetthenewnecklaceandput
downuponthejeweller'scounterthirtysixthousandfrancs.
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WhenMadameLoiseltookbackthenecklacetoMadameForestier,thelattersaidtoher
inachillyvoice:

"YououghttohavebroughtitbacksoonerImighthaveneededit."

Shedidnot,asherfriendhadfeared,openthecase.Ifshehadnoticedthesubstitution,
whatwouldshehavethought?Whatwouldshehavesaid?Wouldshenothavetakenherfora
thief?
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MadameLoiselcametoknowtheghastlylifeofabjectpoverty.Fromtheveryfirstsheplayed
herpartheroically.Thisfearfuldebtmustbepaidoff.Shewouldpayit.Theservantwas
dismissed.Theychangedtheirflattheytookagarretundertheroof.

Shecametoknowtheheavyworkofthehouse,thehatefuldutiesofthekitchen.She
washedtheplates,wearingoutherpinknailsonthecoarsepotteryandthebottomsofpans.
Shewashedthedirtylinen,theshirtsanddishcloths,andhungthemouttodryonastring
everymorningshetookthedustbindownintothestreetandcarriedupthewater,stoppingon
eachlandingtogetherbreath.And,cladlikeapoorwoman,shewenttothefruiterer,tothe
grocer,tothebutcher,abasketonherarm,haggling,insulted,fightingforeverywretched
halfpennyofhermoney.

Everymonthnoteshadtobepaidoff,othersrenewed,timegained.

Herhusbandworkedintheeveningsatputtingstraightamerchant'saccounts,andoften
atnighthedidcopyingattwopencehalfpennyapage.

Andthislifelastedtenyears.

Attheendoftenyearseverythingwaspaidoff,everything,theusurer'schargesandthe
accumulationofsuperimposedinterest.

MadameLoisellookedoldnow.Shehadbecomelikealltheotherstrong,hard,coarse
womenofpoorhouseholds.Herhairwasbadlydone,herskirtswereawry,herhandswerered.
Shespokeinashrillvoice,andthewatersloppedalloverthefloorwhenshescrubbedit.But
sometimes,whenherhusbandwasattheoffice,shesatdownbythewindowandthoughtof
thateveninglongago,oftheballatwhichshehadbeensobeautifulandsomuchadmired.
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Whatwouldhavehappenedifshehadneverlostthosejewels.Whoknows?Who
knows?Howstrangelifeis,howfickle!Howlittleisneededtoruinortosave!

OneSunday,asshehadgoneforawalkalongtheChampsElyseestofreshenherself
afterthelaboursoftheweek,shecaughtsightsuddenlyofawomanwhowastakingachildout
forawalk.ItwasMadameForestier,stillyoung,stillbeautiful,stillattractive.

MadameLoiselwasconsciousofsomeemotion.Shouldshespeaktoher?Yes,
certainly.Andnowthatshehadpaid,shewouldtellherall.Whynot?

Shewentuptoher.

"Goodmorning,Jeanne."

Theotherdidnotrecogniseher,andwassurprisedatbeingthusfamiliarlyaddressedby
apoorwoman.

"But...Madame..."shestammered."Idon'tknow...youmustbemakingamistake."

"No...IamMathildeLoisel."

Herfriendutteredacry.

"Oh!...mypoorMathilde,howyouhavechanged!..."

"Yes,I'vehadsomehardtimessinceIsawyoulastandmanysorrows...andallon
youraccount."

"Onmyaccount!...Howwasthat?"

"YourememberthediamondnecklaceyoulentmefortheballattheMinistry?"

"Yes.Well?"

"Well,Ilostit."

"Howcouldyou?Why,youbroughtitback."

"Ibroughtyouanotheronejustlikeit.Andforthelasttenyearswehavebeenpayingfor
it.Yourealiseitwasn'teasyforuswehadnomoney....Well,it'spaidforatlast,andI'mglad
indeed."
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MadameForestierhadhalted.

"Yousayyouboughtadiamondnecklacetoreplacemine?"

"Yes.Youhadn'tnoticedit?Theywereverymuchalike."

Andshesmiledinproudandinnocenthappiness.

MadameForestier,deeplymoved,tookhertwohands.

"Oh,mypoorMathilde!Butminewasimitation.Itwasworthattheverymostfive
hundredfrancs!..."