盗情空间

讲述了Shortlybeforeheistowed,millionaireJohnWillisisvisitedbyDr.HarryS.Blair,apsychiatristwhoinformshimthatyearsbeforehewasmarriedtoNancy,Johnswife-to-be,andwarnshimthatsheismentallyunbalanced.Blairthenrelatesthefollowingstory:AfterawhirlwindromanceinFlorida,BlairmarriesNancyandstartsapsychiatricpracticeinNewYork.Oneday,artistNormanClydecomestohisofficeandtellshimthataninnocentmanisabouttobeexecutedinSingSingPrisonandthatNancyisthecauseofhisunjustincarceration.AdistraughtClydethenexplainshimselftoacuriousBlair:Threeyearsbefore,ClydemeetsNancy,whosemaidennamewasMonks,whensheenrollsinhisartclass.ThemoodyClydesoonfallsinlovewithNancyshonestcharmandbeauty.Nancy,asecretary,introducesClydetoherboss,millionaireAndrewBonner,andpersuadesBonnertoshowcaseClydespaintingsatoneofhisprivateshowings.ToNancysdelight,Clydespainting,adepictionofthetragicfigureCassandraforwhichshemodeled,winsfirstprizeattheshowing.Theeveningisperfectuntilanexpensivebraceletisstolenfromaguest,andClydelaterfindsitinNancyspurse.AfterClydeconfrontsaconfusedNancyaboutthetheft,sherelatesthefollowingstorytoexplainherbehavior:Asayounggirl,NancyliveswithherhousekeepermotherinthelavishWillishomeandplayswithKaren,theWilliseslittledaughter.AlthoughKarenwantstoinviteNancytoherupcomingbirthdayparty,Mrs.Willisrefusestoallowthelower-classNancytoattend.Atruefriend,KarenpromisestogiveNancyoneofthepinsherguestsarereceiving.WhenKarenrealizestherearenoextrapins,however,sheoffersNancythebeautifullocketshehasjustreceivedfromhermother.NancyssubsequentjoyissooncrushedwhenMrs.Willisdemandsthatshereturnthelocket.Later,thelocketisdiscoveredmissing,andNancyisaccusedoftheft.AlthoughNancysmothersoonfindsthelocketinKarensdress,Mrs.WillisrefusestobelieveNancyandforceshertoconfess.TheadultNancythenadmitstoClydethatthischildhoodhumiliationcausedherunconsciousdesiretostealthebraceletattheparty.AfteraforgivingClydereturnsthebraceletanonymously,heandNancycontinuetheirromanceuntilthenextpartyattheBonners.SuspectingthattheabsentNancyisspendingtheeveninginBonnersarms,ClydeleavesthepartytolookforherandseesherexitingMrs.Bonnersbedroomjustaftertwogunshotsarefired.Bonnerisfoundmurdered,andMrs.Bonnersdiamondnecklace,stolen.AlthoughNancyandClydearequestioned,valetMyronDexteriseventuallyfoundguiltyandissentencedtodie.Clyde,however,stronglysuspectsNancy,butsheangrilymaintainsherinnocenceandleavesforFlorida.Backinhisoffice,BlairdefendsNancytoClydebutinviteshimtohishousethatevening.Whenconfronted,NancydenieseverythingandtellsBlairthatClydeismerelyjealous.Thenextday,Dexterisexecuted,andaguilt-riddenClydejumpsfromBlairsofficewindowtohisdeath.Toavoidscandal,BlairandNancymovetoEngland,andafterWorldWarIIbreaksout,Blairvolunteershismedicalservices,whileNancybecomesanambulancedriver.ExpressingconcernoverBlairshealth,NancyinsiststhattheytakeavacationatLordandLadyWyndhamsmanorhouse.Justastheyareleaving,BlairlearnsthatoneofLadyWyndhamsvaluablejewelshasbeenstolen.BlairsuspectsNancybutisunabletoproveanythinguntilabombdestroystheirflatandrevealshercacheofstolenjewels.Althoughconfronteddirectly,NancycontinuestodenyanyguiltanddivorcesBlairafterhesuffersanervousbreakdown.BackinJohnsstudy,Blair,likeClydebeforehim,triestoconvinceJohntoabandonNancy,whonowusesthenamePatton.John,however,believesNancywhenshetellshimthatBlairisstillsufferingfromhisbreakdown.Momentsbeforetheweddingistostart,Nancysfuturemother-in-law,theunsuspectingMrs.Willis,givesherthesamelocketthatsheoncetookaway,andtellsherthatitisapreciousfamilyheirloom.ThelocketcausesNancytobeovercomewithguilt,andshecollapsesatthealtarinhysterics.AsNancyislatertakenawaytoaninstitution,JohnsadlyrealizesthetruthofBlairsstory,butdeterminestoseeNancythroughhercrisis.