“It’s true. I never thought of it.” The next day she went to her friend and told of her distress.
Mine. Forestier went to a wardrobe with a glass door, took out a large jewel-box, brought it
back, opened it, and said to Mine. Loisel:
“Choose, my dear.”
She saw first of all some bracelets, then a pearl necklace, then a Venetian cross, gold and
precious stones of admirable workmanship. She tried on the ornaments before the glass,
hesitated, could not make up her mind to part with them, to give them back. She kept asking:
“Haven’t you any more?”
“Why, yes. Look. I don’t know what you like.”
All of a sudden she discovered, in a black satin box, a superb necklace of diamonds; and her
heart began to beat with an immoderate desire. Her hands trembled as she took it. She fastened it
around her throat, outside her high-necked dress, and remained lost in ecstasy at the sight of
herself.