of the latter, who had gone with Martine to
market, the doctor received a visit which filled him at first with a
sort of terror. It was from the woman who had sold him the beautiful
corsage of old point d'Alencon, his first present to Clotilde. He felt
himself so weak against a possible temptation that he trembled. Even
before the woman had uttered a word he had already begun to defend
himself--no, no, he neither could nor would buy anything. And with
outstretched hands he prevented her from taking anything out of her
little bag, declaring to himself that he would look at nothing. The
dealer, however, a fat, amiable woman, smiled, certain of victory. In an
insinuating voice she began to tell him a long story of how a lady, whom
she was not at liberty to name, one of the most distinguished ladies
in Plassans, who had suddenly met with a reverse of fortune, had been
obliged to part with one of her jewels; and she then enlarged on the
splendid chance--a piece of jewelry that had cost twelve hundred francs,
and she was willing to let it go for five hundred. She opened her bag
slowly, in spite of the terrified and ever-louder protestations of the
doctor, and took from it a slender gold necklace set simply with seven
pearls in front; but the pearls were of wonderful brilliancy--flawless,
and perfect in shape. The ornament was simple, chaste, and of exquisite
delicacy. And instantly he saw in fancy the necklace on Clotilde's
beautiful neck, as its natural adornment. Any other jewel would have
been a useless ornament, these pearls would be the fitting symbol of her
youth. And he took the necklace in his trembling fingers, experiencing
a mortal anguish at the idea of returning it. He defended himself still,
however; he declared that he had not five hundred francs, while the
dealer continued, in her smooth voice, to push the advantage she had
gained. After another quarter an hour, when she thought she had him
secure, she suddenly offered him the necklace for three hundred francs,
and he yielded; his mania for giving, his desire to please his idol, to
adorn her, conquered. When he went to the desk to take the fifteen
gold pieces to count them out to the dealer, he felt convinced that the
notary's affairs would be arranged, and that they would soon have plenty
of money.

When Pascal found himself once more alone, with the ornament in his
pocket, he was seized with a childish delight, and he planned his little
surprise, while waitin