He realized it: he gnawed his nails, and exhausted himself in vain
efforts.

He grew perceptibly thinner.

Now the jokers asked him to tell the story of "The Piece of String"
for their amusement, as a soldier who has seen service is asked to
tell about his battles. His mind, attacked at its source, grew
feebler.

Late in December he took to his bed.

In the first days of January he died, and in his delirium, of the
death agony, he protested his innocence, repeating:

"A little piece of string--a little piece of string--see, here it is,
m'sieu' mayor."


NOTES

[1] _The Piece of String_ was written in 1884. Reprinted from _Little
French Masterpieces_, by permission of the publishers, _G.P. Putnam's
Sons_.

[2] 34:5 char-à-bancs. A pleasure car.

[3] 35:26 Angelus. A bell tolled at morning, noon, and night,
according to the Roman Catholic Church custom, to indicate the time of