# File lib/memcache.rb, line 159
    def delete(key, expiry = 0)
        @mutex.synchronize do
            raise MemCacheError, "No active servers" unless self.active?
            cache_key = make_cache_key(key)
            server = get_server_for_key(cache_key)

            sock = server.socket
            if sock.nil?
                raise MemCacheError, "No connection to server"
            end

            begin
                sock.write "delete #{cache_key} #{expiry}\r\n"
                sock.gets
            rescue SystemCallError, IOError => err
                server.close
                raise MemCacheError, err.message
            end
        end
    end