The Necklace Summary

The Necklace's Deception

Madame Loisel, a beautiful woman, discovers a diamond necklace in a black satin case and is covetous. She fastens the necklace around her neck and remains in ecstasy at sight of herself. She asks her husband to lend her the necklace alone, and they go away with it. The day of the party arrives, and Madame Loisel is a success. She is elegant, graceful, smiling, and above herself with happiness.

Madame Loisel is the prettiest woman present, and all the men stare at her, inquire about her name, and ask to be introduced to her. All the Under-Secretaries of State are eager to waltz with her, and the Minister notices her. She dances madly, ecstatically, drunk with pleasure, in the triumph of her beauty, pride of her success, and the completeness of a victory so dear to her feminine heart.

Madame Loisel leaves about four o'clock in the morning, feeling that she will catch cold in the open and needs to fetch a cab. She quickly descends the staircase and finds a cab on the quay, but they cannot find one. They walk down towards the Seine, desperate and shivering, and finally find an old nightprowling carriage on the quay.

As they search for the necklace, they find it in the folds of her dress, coat, and pockets. Madame Loisel is astonished that she has lost her necklace, as she touched it in the hall at the Ministry. He believes that if she had lost it in the street, they should have heard it fall. She also doesn't take the number of the cab, as she didn't notice it.