In one work by this author, the protagonist is mistakenly thought to have been picking up Maitre Holbroque's pocketbook from the road when he only picked up the titular worthless object. This author of "Piece of String" also wrote about a prostitute who sleeps with a Prussian officer and is subsequently shunned by her train car in his story (*) "Ball of Fat." In another story by this author, the protagonist works for ten 
In one work by this author, the protagonist is mistakenly thought to have been picking up Maitre Holbroque's pocketbook from the road when he only picked up the titular worthless object. This author of "Piece of String" also wrote about a prostitute who sleeps with a Prussian officer and is subsequently shunned by her train car in his story (*) "Ball of Fat." In another story by this author, the protagonist works for ten years to buy Madame Forestier replacement jewelry; that protagonist, Mathilde Loisel, is then informed that the jewelry she borrowed was fake. For 10 points, identify this French short story writer and author of Bel-Ami, Pierre et Jean, and "The Necklace."
In one work by this author, the protagonist is mistakenly thought to have been picking up Maitre Holbroque's pocketbook from the road when he only picked up the titular worthless object.
Guy de {Maupassant}