p 　　Lucienne Delamare and Pierre Maury are having an affair Lucienne 三九 s husband Paul is the mayor, and a French deputy Pierre 三九 s wife Clotilde has been weak and sickly for years Lucienne 三九 s husband holds no excitement for her, and he is always away in Paris on business Pierre is now the vice-mayor, thanks to Paul Lucienne and Pierre have a secret meeting spot by a lake along a country lane Pierre 三九 s wife dies suddenly, by suicide the town gossips believe Pierre confesses otherwise to Lucienne Paul proposes a shady land deal which will quot benefit the town quot , and wants Pierre 三九 s political support and collusion Then Paul discovers proof of his wife 三九 s affair p