 Lucienne Delamare and Pierre Maury are having an affair. Lucienne s husband Paul is the mayor, and a French deputy. Pierre s wife Clotilde has been weak and sickly for years. Lucienne 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 s wife dies suddenly, by suicide the town gossips believe. Pierre confesses otherwise to Lucienne. Paul proposes a shady land deal which will "benefit the town", and wants Pierre s political support and collusion. Then Paul discovers proof of his wife s affair...