He regained consciousness in a pharmacy to which he had been carried by some passers-by. He had himself driven back home and locked himself indoors. All day long he wept in despair, biting his handkerchief to stop himself wailing. Exhausted with emotion he put himself to bed and eventually fell into a deep sleep.

A ray of sunlight awoke him the following day and he got up slowly to go to the Ministry. It was hard to go to work after such an emotional upheaval. It occurred to him that he might send word to his superior, excusing himself from his duties that day. Accordingly he wrote a note. Then he remembered that he had to go back to the jeweller. Turning crimson with shame, he stayed where he was for a long time just thinking things over. He could hardly leave the necklace with the fellow after all. Finally he got dressed and went out.

It was a lovely day with a blue sky over the entire city, which seemed to be in a carefree mood. Strollers were ambling by with their hands in their pockets. As he watched them pass, he said to himself: Great to have money, isn’t it? With money in the bank, you can just shake off all your worries, all your troubles, go where you like … travel … have fun … God I wish I was rich.

He noticed that he was hungry, not having eaten for nearly two days now. But his pockets were empty. Again he remembered the necklace. Eighteen thousand francs! Eighteen thousand francs! Serious money, that was!

He reached the rue de la Paix and began to walk up and down the pavement opposite the shop. Eighteen thousand francs! He must have made at least twenty attempts to go in but each time shame stopped him. He was really hungry by now, however –ravenous in fact and without a sou. Coming to a sudden decision, he raced across the road and, before he could change his mind again, rushed into the jeweller’s shop.

As soon as he saw him, the dealer began to dance attendance and with a polite smile offered him a chair. Even the assistants gathered, looking sideways at Lantin with a gleam of amusement in their eyes and a half-smile playing on their lips.

The jeweller declared: ‘I have made the necessary inquiries, Monsieur. If you still wish to offer it for sale I am in a position to offer you in turn the sum we mentioned earlier.’

The clerk stammered: ‘Yes … yes … certainly … I do.’

From a drawer the jeweller drew out eighteen large bills, counted them out and presented them to Lantin, who signed a receipt chit, and, trembling, pocketed the money.

Then as he was leaving he turned again towards the jeweller who was still smiling. Lowering his eyes, Lantin said: ‘I’ve also come into some other jewellery … in the same … the same way. Would you be interested in purchasing them as well?’