    # File lib/memcache/server.rb, line 40
        def close(error = nil)
          # Close the socket. If there is an error, mark the server dead.
          @socket.close if @socket and not @socket.closed?
          @socket = nil

          if error
            @retry_at = Time.now + READ_RETRY_DELAY
            @status   = "DEAD: %s: %s, will retry at %s" % [error.class, error.message, @retry_at]
          else
            @retry_at = nil
            @status   = "NOT CONNECTED"
          end
        end