Ma�tre Hauchecome of Breaute had just arrived at Goderville, and he was directing his steps toward the public square when he perceived upon the ground a little piece of string. Ma�tre Hauchecome, economical like a true Norman, thought that everything useful ought to be picked up, and he bent painfully, for he suffered from rheumatism. He took the bit of thin cord from the ground and began to roll it carefully when he noticed Ma�tre Malandain, the harness maker, on the threshold of his door, looking at him.
When Maitre Hauchcome picks the string off the ground, he commits the act that sets the story in motion. The simple act of picking up the piece of string will lead Malandain to accuse him of stealing the wallet and ultimately, to Hauchcome's death.
Rising Action
It is hereby made known to the inhabitants of Goderville, and in general to all persons present at the market, that there was lost this morning on the road to Benzeville, between nine and ten o'clock, a black leather pocketbook containing five hundred francs and some business papers. The finder is requested to return same with all haste to the mayor's office or to Ma�tre Fortune Houlbreque of Manneville; there will be twenty francs reward."
Then the man went away. The heavy roll of the drum and the again heard at a distance.
Then they began to talk of this event, discussing the chances that Ma�tre Houlbreque had of finding or not finding his pocketbook.
And the meal concluded. They were finishing their coffee when a chief of the gendarmes appeared upon the threshold.
He inquired:Is Ma�tre Hauchecome of Breaute here?" Ma�tre Hauchecome, seated at the other end of the table, replied: "Here I am." And the officer resumed: "Ma�tre Hauchecome, will you have the goodness to accompany me to the mayor's office? The mayor would like to talk to you."
As you can see here the Rising action taking place as the protaganists begin to setup to accuse the antagonist.
Climax
Me? Me? Me pick up the pocketbook?"
"Yes, you yourself."
"Word of honor, I never heard of it."
"But you were seen."
"I was seen, me? Who says he saw me?"
"Monsieur Malandain, the harness maker."
As you can tell here the climax taking place cuase the major is just not taking no for an awnser and it seems the whole town is after him
Faling Action
He went home ashamed and indignant, choking with anger and confusion, the more dejected that he was capable, with his Norman cunning, of doing what they had accused him of and ever boasting of it as of a good turn. His innocence to him, in a confused way, was impossible to prove, as his sharpness was known. And he was stricken to the heart by the injustice of the suspicion.
Then he began to recount the adventures again, prolonging his history every day, adding each time new reasons, more energetic protestations, more solemn oaths which he imagined and prepared in his hours of solitude, his whole mind given up to the story of the string. He was believed so much the less as his defense was more complicated and his arguing more subtile.
The town was now waiting for him to die know if they only knew how wrong they were
Resolution
Toward the end of December he took to his bed. He died in the first days of January, and in the delirium of his death struggles he kept claiming his innocence, reiterating: "A piece of string, a piece of string--look--here it is, M'sieu the Mayor."
This is when he is dead and the people find out his defence was true making them feel bad.