The correct order of the events is the following:
1 - Maitre
Hauchecorne is going into Goderville for the market-day.
2 - Maitre
Hauchecorne sees a piece of string on the road and bends down to pick it up.
3 - Maitre
Malandain sees Maitre Hauchecorne pick up the piece of string but does not know
what he actually picked up.
4 - A
missing wallet and reward for its return is announced to the residents of
Goderville.
<span>5 - A police officer states that Maitre Hauchecorne
is accused of taking the wallet by Maitre Malandain.
</span>
6 - Maitre
Hauchecorne is upset by the accusation and pleads his innocence.
7 - The
wallet is returned.
8 - Maitre
Hauchecorne tries to persuade anyone who will listen that he did not take the
wallet.
9 - The
people of Goderville mock Maitre Hauchecorne and his pleas of innocence.
<span>10 - The townspeople believe that Maitre
Hauchecorne had someone else turn in the wallet for him.
</span>
11 - Everyone's
comments about Maitre Hauchecorne make him sick.
12 - Maitre
Hauchecorne wastes away.
13 - On his
deathbed, Maitre Hauchecorne still fruitlessly begs for someone to believe him.
"The Piece of String" is a short story written by the French author, Guy de Maupassant, in 1883, and was included in his collection of short stories called "Miss Harriet".