世上有些贫穷人家的姑娘，身段漂亮，相貌迷人，而且充满罗曼蒂克的想法。然而，尽管她们做着美丽浪漫的梦，却嫁给了平民百姓为妻。玛蒂尔德·卢瓦泽尔便是其中之一，她的丈夫只是教育部里的一名小职员。
一天晚上，她丈夫神采飞扬地回到家里。
“我有样好东西送给你，”他说道，递给她一个大信封。
她拆开信封，里面装着一张请柬，上面印着：
“教育部长乔治·朗蓬诺夫人敬请卢瓦泽尔先生及夫人光临1月18日星期一晚上在本部大楼举行的晚会。”
她似乎一点也不高兴，反而把请柬扔在桌上，没好气地说：
“那跟我有啥关系？”
“嗨，亲爱的，我原以为你会高兴的。你喜欢跳舞，不是吗？你几乎从不出门，这次对你来说可真是一次极好的机会呀。我费了九牛二虎之力才弄到这张请柬。所有的官员都要到场。你知道，每个人都想要，但只邀请了极少数的职员。”
她悲戚地望着他，叫喊道：
“在那种聚会上你叫我穿什么嘛？”
他从未想过，她既没有漂亮衣服，也没有珠宝首饰。他吞吞吐吐地说道：
“嗯，呃，我看，你上剧院穿的那套就挺不错。”
她的眼泪不禁夺眶而出。她为什么要嫁给这样一个木讷、愚笨的家伙？只因为她生在贫寒人家。唉，命运是多么残酷啊！
“干嘛哭啊？”他焦急地问道。
“没什么，”她费力地说道，“只是我没有合适的衣服，因此我不能去参加舞会。你哪位朋友的夫人有比我更漂亮的衣服，就把请柬送给他好了。”
这是令人心碎的自白。“得啦，玛蒂尔德，亲爱的，”窘迫之极的丈夫说，“你认为买一件合适的，就是说简单些并且以后在其他场合还能穿的衣服要花多少钱？”
她想了一会，脑子里飞快地盘算开来。要不吓着她那节俭的丈夫，使他不会断然拒绝，说多少才好呢？
“我也说不上来，不过我想400法郎就够开销了。”
丈夫脸色略微发白。她所报的数目正好是他存着买枪，准备和他的几个朋友到明年夏天去南特尔平原打猎用的。
但他回答道：
“好吧，我给你400法郎。不过，一定得买一件漂漂亮亮的衣服。”
* * *
舞会的日子愈来愈近了。虽然卢瓦泽尔太太得到了想要的衣服，似乎她还是一点也不高兴。
“怎么啦？”她丈夫问道。“这些天你怎么没精打采的？”
“想起来就烦人，我连一件珠宝都没有戴的。我最好还是呆在家里，比在晚会上做出一副可怜相强。”她回答道。
“那你认为戴鲜花怎样？”她丈夫建议道。“现在很时兴。花10法郎就可以买两三朵上等的玫瑰花。”
“你如此愚蠢的念头是从哪里冒出来的？”她答道，“你难道就想象不出站在一群贵妇人中间我会显得多寒酸？”
“呃，那么，”她丈夫说，“你为什么不去找你的朋友福雷斯蒂埃夫人，向她借些首饰呢？她是你的好朋友，她有许多珠宝，不是吗？”
“是啊！当然行，”她兴奋得高声说道，“我怎么就没想到这点呢？”
第二天，她就去拜访福雷斯蒂埃夫人，给她讲了自己的难处。福雷斯蒂埃夫人走到衣橱前，取出一只大珠宝箱，把它打开放在她朋友面前。
“亲爱的，看上哪件就挑哪件吧。”她说。
卢瓦泽尔夫人首先看了一些手镯，然后看了一串珍珠项链，接着又看了一个威尼斯式的镶宝石的金十字架，这件精致的项链手工极棒。她站在镜子前面一件一件地试戴，拿不准选哪件才好。
“你还有没有别的？”她问道。
“啊，有，你自个儿挑吧。我不知道你最喜欢什么。”
突然，卢瓦泽尔夫人发现了一个黑色缎面的首饰盒，里面装着一串上等的钻石项链。她的心怦怦直跳。她用哆嗦着的手取出项链，把它扣在脖子上，然后站在镜子面前出神地欣赏着自己。
她犹犹豫豫地问道：
“你能把这串借给我吗？其他的我就不用了。”
“啊，当然可以。”
卢瓦泽尔夫人一把搂住她朋友的脖子，吻了她就急忙出门而去，惟恐她朋友会改变主意。
* * *
舞会之夜终于来临。卢瓦泽尔太太非常成功。她看上去比所有在场的女人都漂亮。她满怀喜悦，温文尔雅，迈着令人赞叹的舞步，洋洋自得地瞟着舞伴投来的痴迷的目光。所有的男人都在打听她的姓名，求人介绍，请她跳华尔兹舞，甚至连部长本人也注意到了她。
她感到自己仿佛做着美丽的梦，陶醉在欢乐之中。啊，这一刻她已盼了多久了！
直到早晨大约4点钟，她才依依不舍地离开舞会。她丈夫自午夜起就在一间弃而未用的小客厅里打瞌睡，另外还有三位先生，他们的夫人也正尽情地跳着舞。
他把夫人日常穿的披风披在她的肩头。与她在舞会上穿的那件体面的衣服相比，这件披风显得格外地不相称。为急于逃脱那些身着名贵裘衣的女人们的注意，她匆匆忙忙地跑下楼梯。
街上一辆马车也找不着，他们冷得直打哆嗦，朝著塞纳河吃力地走下去。在码头，他们终于找到一辆破旧的摇摇晃晃的出租马车，这种车白天在巴黎街头是见不到的。到了住所，在死一般的沉寂中，他们爬上楼梯回到家里。
她站在镜子前脱去外套。她想趁现在满身荣耀，把自己再多瞧一眼。突然，她惊叫起来。
“什么事？”她丈夫问道。他衣服已脱了一半，明天10点还得准时上班呢。
她转身朝着他，活像个疯子。
“钻石项链丢了！”
“什么？怎么会？不可能！”
他们搜寻她的裙子和披风的折层，搜寻她的衣袋，搜寻每个地方，但那项链就是找不到。
“离开舞会时你还戴着吗？”
“是啊，我记得在门厅里还摸过。”
“如果你把它掉在街上，我们该会听到声响。你肯定是在马车上丢掉的。”
“也许。你注意到车号了吗？”
“没有。”
他们惊恐万状地相互看着。
“我要把刚才走过的路回去重走一遍，设法把它找回来。”
他急匆匆地赶了出去。她猛地瘫坐在椅子上，眼前一片茫然，一幅完全绝望的情景。约摸7点，他回来了，两手空空。之后他去警察局报案，向出租马车的公司逐个打听，但全都白费劲。福雷斯蒂埃夫人的钻石项链就好像飞到了九霄云外。
“给你的朋友写信，”丈夫说道，“就说你把项链的扣环弄坏了，正在请人修。我们得有时间把这件事好好考虑一下。”
* * *
一个星期过去了，并没有给他们带来丁点儿希望。卢瓦泽尔好像一下子老了5岁，他说：
“我们只好买条项链来赔了。”
第二天，他们在那首饰盒的盖子里发现了珠宝店的店名，便拿着空盒子去找老板，他查了他的登记簿。
“我们没有卖过这条项链。我们只配了这个首饰盒。”
他们找了一家又一家珠宝店，想寻找一条与他们丢失的项链相仿的。终于在王宫街的一家店铺里发现一条与福雷斯蒂埃夫人那串一模一样的，标价4万法郎。店主后来答应以36 000法郎出手。
他们求他给他们保留3天，并且跟他讲妥，万一他们在2月底以前找到那串丢失的项链，店主愿意以34 000法郎的价格购回。
他上天入地到处借钱，向这个借1000法郎，向那个借500；这里借5个金路易，那里借3个金路易。他盲目签期票，答应不合理的贷款条件，甚至向职业高利贷者借贷。
36000法郎终于凑齐了，但那是以自己的后半辈子作为赌注的。他怎能指望还清这样一大笔钱？什么时候才还得完？绝望吞噬着他的心，他万念俱灰。
福雷斯蒂埃夫人颇为不悦地接过项链。
“你该早点还，我随时都可能要戴。”
卢瓦泽尔夫人非常害怕她的朋友查验项链，担心她看出差异。好在福雷斯蒂埃夫人连看都没看里面装的东西，就把盒子随手收下放起来了。
* * *
于是，日复一日，年复一年的艰辛岁月来临了。他们勇敢地决定靠辛勤工作来偿还那骇人听闻的债务。他们退掉了公寓，搬到了一处阁楼上住。除了日常用品，他们什么也不买，就连日用品也尽量少买。她学会了与商人讨价还价，随时准备为每一文钱与人争执。没有了白日梦，取而代之的是为还债而无休无止的苦干。
为了延长偿还期限，每月总得要续签一些期票。丈夫下班后就替一个商人记帐，深夜时还为别人抄稿子，抄一页挣5个苏。
一年接一年的过去了，他们仍旧拼命干活，一直干了10年。他们的努力没有白费。10年后，他们终于还清了所有债务，包括高利贷利息。
卢瓦泽尔夫人现在看来比她的实际年龄老得多。她的头发凌乱，裙子歪斜到一边，双手也磨得粗糙有力。这个从前多愁善感、浪漫多情的女子现已变成了倍尝生活艰辛的铁娘子。然而，当丈夫去上班时，她也偶尔坐在窗前回味那场舞会上的荣光。如果她没有丢失那条项链，她现在又会是什么样的女人呢？谁知道？
有一个星期天，她去香榭丽舍大道闲逛，藉以排遣一周的劳累。突然，她看到一个带着小孩的妇人，此人正是福雷斯蒂埃夫人！
福雷斯蒂埃夫人看上去跟10年前一样年轻，一样漂亮，一样迷人。卢瓦泽尔夫人的心激动得发颤。她该给她讲吗？是的，当然应该！债已还清，她当然可以告诉她这一切的一切。为什么不呢？她径直朝福雷斯蒂埃夫人走去。
“让娜，你好！”
给一个衣着极差的陌生人叫住，她的朋友显得颇为茫然，她压根儿就不认识卢瓦泽尔夫人了。
“我想恐怕你搞错了。对不起，我不认识你。”她答道。
“让娜！是我呀——玛蒂尔德·卢瓦泽尔。”
福雷斯蒂埃夫人轻轻地惊叫了一声。
“噢，可怜的玛蒂尔德！你到底怎么啦？你完全变了样！”
“是啊。从那天开始我就没过一天好日子，而这一切都是因为你！”
“因为我！这怎么可能呢？”
“你记得我为了去参加教育部大楼举行的舞会，向你借的那条钻石项链吗？”
“是的，那又怎样？”
“怎样，我把它弄丢了。”
“你怎么这样说呢？你把项链还给我了呀。”
“我还给你的是另外一条，完全相像的另外一条。为了还钱，我和丈夫在这过去的10年里拼命干活。你知道，对我们穷人来说，要偿还36000法郎是相当不易的。但不要担心，现在一切都过去了，我们已全部还清了。”
福雷斯蒂埃夫人突然收住脚步。
“你说你把我那条项链丢了，并且买了条与它相似的钻石项链来还我？”
“是的。那么，你是从来就没有发现过！这两条项链完全一模一样。”
福雷斯蒂埃夫人非常感动，抓住了她的双手。
“唉，可怜的玛蒂尔德！你都干了些什么？我那条根本就是假的，不是真货！”
* * *
“那你认为我们这10年的辛苦不是白费了吗？”丈夫问道。
“白费，噢，不！当你上班时，我常坐在窗下想，如果我没有丢掉项链，现在我会成了什么样的人，现在我知道答案了。”
“我知道你的答案，亲爱的。”丈夫说道。
“是啊，正是这条丢失了的项链才鼓起了我们的勇气，使我们能吃苦耐劳和坚忍图成。要不是因为那次变故，我还会是个自私自利、粗野邪恶、忘恩负义的人。难道这是白费吗？一点也不！”
正在此时响起了敲门声。卢瓦泽尔夫人打开门，发现福雷斯蒂埃夫人微笑着站在那里。
“福雷斯蒂埃夫人！”
“亲爱的玛蒂尔德，我明天要出去旅行，”福雷斯蒂埃夫人急促地说道，“动身前，我想把这串项链作为礼物送给你，请收下。”
没等玛蒂尔德来得及说什么，福雷斯蒂埃夫人已转身离去了。
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．”
He hurried out．She flung herself down in a chair，and remained there blankly，the very picture of despair．About seven o’clock he re- turned，empty-handed．Then he reported to the police and made inquiries among the cab companies，but all in vain．Madame Forestier’s di- amond necklace seemed to have vanished into thin air．
“Write to your friend，”the husband said，“that you have injured the clasp of her necklace and that you are having it mended．We must have time to think over the matter．”
* * *
A week had passed without bringing them any spark of hope．Loisel，who now looked five years older，said，
“We’ll have to replace the necklace．”
The next day they took the empty case to the jeweller’s whose name they found inside the lid．He consulted his books．
“We did not sell the necklace．We only supplied the case．”
They went from jeweller to jeweller，searching for a necklace like the one they had lost．At last，in a shop at the Palais Royal they found a diamond necklace exactly like Madame Forestier’s．The price was forty thousand francs．The jeweller agreed to sell it for thirty-six．
They begged him not to sell it for three days， and they got him to promise that he would buy it back for thirty-four thousand francs，in case they should find the lost necklace by the end of February．
He rushed for a loan to everybody， asking a thousand francs from one man，five hundred from another，five louis here，three louis there．He blindly signed promissory notes，agreed to unreasonable terms，even called on professional money- lenders．
At last he obtained the thirty-six thousand francs，but at the risk of his whole future．How could he hope to return so much money？And when？Crushing despair gnawed at his heart．
* * *
Madame Forestier received the necklace with an air of displeasure．
“You should have returned it sooner．I might need it at any moment．”
Madame Loisel feared lest her friend should examine the necklace and notice the difference．However，Madame Forestier carelessly put the case away without looking at the contents…
* * *
Then came to the couple days，weeks and years of drudgery．They heroically resolved to pay the appalling debt by working hard．They quitted the flat and moved into a garret．They bought nothing except daily necessaries，which they tried to do without often enough．She learned to bargain with tradesmen，ready to quarrel for every son．Her daydreaming was replaced by a constant endeavour to pay her way．
Each month some of the promissory notes had to be renewed，only to gain time．The husband worked after office hours，keeping accounts for a tradesman，and late at night copying manuscripts at five sons a page．
A new year came，followed by another andanother，and still they grubbed on，until ten years had flowed on．Their efforts were not in vain．At the end of that time they had managed to pay off everything，including interest at high rate．
Madame Loisel now looked older than her age．Her hair disheveled，her skirt turned to one side， her hands rough and hardened，the former sentimental，romantic woman had turned into a stout- hearted matron who had tasted the bitters of life．Now and then，however，when her husband was away at the office，she would sit by the window and think of the glory of that dance．What sort of woman would she be now，if she had not lost the necklace？Who knows？
One Sunday she went for a stroll in the Champs-Elysées to divert her mind from the labours of the week，when she caught sight of a lady with a child．It was Madame restier！
Madame Forestier looked as young，as beautiful， and as charming as ten years before．Madame Loisel felt her heart beat hard．Should she speak to her？Yes，of course．The debt had all been paid； she might tell her all about it．Why not？She went up to Madame Forestier．
“Hello，Jeanne！”
Her friend looked mystified，addressed by a poorly－dressed stranger：She had not recognized Madame Loisel．
“I’m afraid you’ve made a mistake．Sorry，but I don’t know you，she said．
Jeanne！It’s me—Mathilde Loisel．”
Madame Forestier uttered a cry of surprise．
“Oh，my poor Mathild！What’s happened to you？You’re quite a stranger！
“Yes， I’ve had a very hard time since then—and all through you！
“Through me！How can that be？”
“You remember the diamond necklace I borrowed from you to attend the dance at the Educa-10tion Office？”
“Yes，Well？”
“Well，I lost it．”
“What makes you say so？You returned it to me．”
“What I returned to you was another one，exactly like it．And for the last ten years my husband and I have been working hard to pay for it．You know，it is hard for us poor people to pay thirty－six thousand francs．But don’t worry！It’s all over now．We’ve paid it in full．”
Madame Forestier stopped short．
“You say that you lost my necklace and bought a diamond necklace like mine to replace it？
“Yes．You’ve never noticed it，then！They were exactly alike．”
Madame Forestier， deeply moved，seized bothher hands．
“Oh， my poor Mathilde！What have you done？Why， mine was only imitation， not genuine！
* * *
“Then you don’t think our ten years’ labour wasted？”the husband asked．
“Wasted？Oh，no！ When you were at the office，I often sat by the window and wondered what sortof person I should be if I had not lost the necklace．Now I know my answer．”
“ I know your answer， my dear，the husbandsaid．
“Yes，it was the lost necklace that inspired us with courage，endurance and perseverance．But for that incident，I’d have remained a selfish，graceless， thankless person．Wasted？Oh，no！”
At that moment there came a knock at the door．Madame Loisel opened it，and found Madame Forestier standing there， her face radiant with smiles．
“Madame Forestier！”
“My dear Mathilde，I’m going on a tour tomorrow，”Madame Forestier hastily said．“Before I start，I want to make you a present of this necklace．Please accept it．”
Before Mathilde could say anything，Madame Forestier was gone．
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