英语美文《项链 3》
THE NECKLACE
作者 莫泊桑
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．”
舞会之夜终于来临。卢瓦泽尔太太非常成功。她看上往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，求人先容，请她跳华尔兹舞，甚至连部长本人也留意到了她。
她感到自己仿佛做着美丽的梦，沉醉在欢乐之中。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当。为急于逃脱那些身着名贵裘衣的女人们的留意，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往。在码头，他们终于找到一辆破旧的摇摇摆晃的出租马车，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。
她站在镜子前脱往外套。她想趁现在满身荣耀，把自己再多瞧一眼。忽然，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。”
“假如你把它掉在街上，我们该会听到声响。你肯定是在马车上丢掉的。”
“也许。你留意到车号了吗？”
“没有。”
他们惊恐万状地相互看着。
“我要把刚才走过的路回往重走一遍，想法把它找回来。”
他急匆匆地赶了出往。她猛地瘫坐在椅子上，眼前一片茫然，一幅完全尽看的情景。约摸7点，他回来了，两手空空。之后他往警察局报案，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似乎飞到了九霄云外。
“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。”
未完待续
居伊·德·莫泊桑（Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant，1850年8月5日—1893年7月6日），19世纪后半期法国优秀的批判现实主义作家，被誉为现代文学中的“世界短篇小说之王”，与俄国契诃夫和美国欧·亨利并称为“世界三大短篇小说巨匠”。他一生创作了六部长篇小说、三百五十九篇中短篇小说及三部游记，是法国文学史上短篇小说创作数量最大、成就最高的作家。代表作品有《项链》、《漂亮朋友》、《羊脂球》、《我的叔叔于勒》等。
英文朗诵：洁白 ：中学英语高级教师。中国朗诵联盟会员。喜欢朗读，希望通过自己的声音向世界传播中国文化，讲好中国故事。
中文朗诵：崔莉 （网名猫姐姐） 退休医生。在寂静的微观世界里与细胞对话。在喧腾的宏观世界中寻找声音的快乐，用声音传递温暖，传颂美好。
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