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containing the 〃trash；〃 as M。 Lantin called it。 She would examine
the false gems with a passionate attention as though they were in
some way connected with a deep and secret joy； and she often
insisted on passing a necklace around her husband's neck； and
laughing heartily would exclaim： 〃How droll you look！〃 Then she
would throw herself into his arms and kiss him affectionately。
One evening in winter she attended the opera； and on her return
was chilled through and through。 The next morning she coughed；
and eight days later she died of inflammation of the lungs。
M。 Lantin's despair was so great that his hair became white in
one month。 He wept unceasingly； his heart was torn with grief；
and his mind was haunted by the remembrance； the smile； the
voiceby every charm of his beautiful； dead wife。
Time； the healer； did not assuage his grief。 Often during office
hours； while his colleagues were discussing the topics of the
day； his eyes would suddenly fill with tears； and he would give
vent to his grief in heartrending sobs。 Everything in his wife's
room remained as before her decease； and here he was wont to
seclude himself daily and think of her who had been his
treasurethe joy of his existence。
But life soon became a struggle。 His income； which in the hands
of his wife had covered all household expenses； was now no longer
sufficient for his own immediate wants； and he wondered how she
could have managed to buy such excellent wines； and such rare
delicacies； things which he could no longer procure with his
modest resources。
He incurred some debts and was soon reduced to absolute poverty。
One morning； finding himself without a cent in his pocket； he
resolved to sell something； and； immediately； the thought
occurred to him of disposing of his wife's paste jewels。 He
cherished in his heart a sort of rancor against the false gems。
They had always irritated him in the past； and the very sight of
them spoiled somewhat the memory of his lost darling。
To the last days of her life； she had continued to make
purchases； bringing home new gems almost every evening。 He
decided to sell the heavy necklace which she seemed to prefer；
and which； he thought； ought to be worth about six or seven
francs； for although paste it was； nevertheless； of very fine
workmanship。
He put it in his pocket and started out in search of a jeweler's
shop。 He entered the first one he sawfeeling a little ashamed
to expose his misery； and also to offer such a worthless article
for sale。
〃Sir；〃 said he to the merchant； 〃I would like to know what this
is worth。〃
The man took the necklace； examined it； called his clerk and made
some remarks in an undertone； then he put the ornament back on
the counter； and looked at it from a distance to judge of the
effect。
M。 Lantin was annoyed by all this detail and was on the point of
saying： 〃Oh！ I know well enough it is not worth anything；〃 when
the jeweler said： 〃Sir； that necklace is worth from twelve to
fifteen thousand francs； but I could not buy it unless you tell
me now whence it comes。〃
The widower opened his eyes wide and remained gaping； not
comprehending the merchant's meaning。 Finally he stammered：。 〃You
sayare you sure？〃 The other replied dryly： 〃You can search
elsewhere and see if anyone will offer you more。 I consider it
worth fifteen thousand at the most。 Come back here if you cannot
do better。〃
M。 Lantin； beside himself with astonishment； took up the necklace
and left the store。 He wished time for reflection。
Once outside； he felt inclined to laugh； and said to himself：
〃The fool！ Had I only taken him at his word！ That jeweler cannot
distinguish real diamonds from paste。〃
A few minutes after； he entered another store in the Rue de la
Paix。 As soon as the proprietor glanced at the necklace； he cried
out：
〃Ah； parbleu！ I know it well； it was bought here。〃
M。 Lantin was disturbed； and asked：
〃How much is it worth？〃
〃Well； I sold it for twenty thousand francs。 I am willing to take
it back for eighteen thousand when you inform me； according to
our legal formality； how it comes to be in your possession。〃
This time M。 Lantin was dumfounded。 He replied：
〃Butbutexamine it well。 Until this moment I was under the
impression that it was paste。〃
Said the jeweler：
〃What is your name； sir？〃
〃LantinI am in the employ of the Minister of the Interior。 I
live at No。 16 Rue des Martyrs。〃
The merchant looked through his books； found the entry； and said：
〃That necklace was sent to Mme。 Lantin's address； 16 Rue des
Martyrs； July 20； 1876。〃
The two men looked into each other's eyesthe widower speechless
with astonishment； the jeweler scenting a thief。 The latter broke
the silence by saying：
〃Will you leave this necklace here for twenty…four hours？ I will
give you a receipt。〃
〃Certainly；〃 answered M。 Lantin； hastily。 Then； putting the
ticket in his pocket； he left the store。
He wandered aimlessly through the streets； his mind in a state of
dreadful confusion。 He tried to reason； to understand。 His wife
could not afford to purchase such a costly ornament。 Certainly
not。 But； then； it must have been a present！a present！a
present from whom？ Why was it given her？
He stopped and remained standing in the middle of the street。 A
horrible doubt entered his mindshe？ Then all the other gems
must have been presents； too！ The earth seemed to tremble beneath
him；the tree before him was fallingthrowing up his arms； he
fell to the ground； unconscious。 He recovered his senses in a
pharmacy into which the passers…by had taken him； and was then
taken to his home。 When he arrived he shut himself up in his room
and wept until nightfall。 Finally； overcome with fatigue； he
threw himself on the bed； where he passed an uneasy； restless
night。
The following morning he arose and prepared to go to the office。
It was hard to work after such a； shock。 He sent a letter to his
employer requesting to be excused。 Then he remembered that he had
to return to the jeweler's。 He did not like the idea； but he
could not leave the necklace with that man。 So he dressed and
went out。
It was a lovely day； a clear blue sky smiled on the busy city
below； and men of leisure were strolling about with their hands
in their pockets。
Observing them； M。 Lantin said to himself： 〃The rich； indeed； are
happy。 With money it is possible to forget even the deepest
sorrow。 One can go where one pleases； and in travel find that
distraction which is the surest cure for grief。 Oh！ if I were
only rich！〃
He began to feel hungry； but his pocket was empty。 He again
remembered the necklace。 Eighteen thousand francs！ Eighteen
thousand francs！ What a sum！
He soon arrived in the Rue de la Paix； opposite the jeweler's。
Eighteen thousand francs！ Twenty times he resolved to go in； but
shame kept him back。 He was hungry； however；very hungry； and
had not a cent in his pocket。 He decided quickly； ran across the
street in order not to have time for reflection； and entered the
store。
The proprietor immediately came forward； and politely offered him
a chair； the clerks glanced at him knowingly。
〃I have made inquiries； M。 Lant