No . . . I am Mathilde Loisel."
 Her friend uttered a cry.
 "Oh! . . . my poor Mathilde, how you have changed! . . ."
 "Yes, I've had a pretty hard life, since I last saw you ; and great poverty and that because of you."
 "Of me how so?"
 "Do You remember the diamond necklace you lent me to wear at the Ministerial?"
 "Yes. Well?"
 "Well, I lost it."
 "How could you? Why, you brought it back."
 "I brought you another one just like it. And for the last ten years we have been paying for it. You realise it wasn't easy for us; we had no money. . . . Well, it's paid for at last, and I'm glad indeed."