Shortlybeforeheistowed,millionaireJohnWillisisvisitedbyDrHarrySBlair,apsychiatristwhoinformshimthatyearsbeforehewasmarriedtoNancy,John'swifetobe,andwarnshimthatsheismentallyunbalanced BlairthenrelatesthefollowingstoryAfterawhirlwindromanceinFlorida,BlairmarriesNancyandstartsapsychiatricpracticeinNewYorkOneday,artistNormanClydecomestohisofficeandtellshimthataninnocentmanisabouttobeexecutedinSingSingPrisonandthatNancyisthecauseofhisunjustincarcerationAdistraughtClydethenexplainshimselftoacuriousBlair Threeyearsbefore,ClydemeetsNancy,whosemaidennamewasMonks,whensheenrollsinhisartclassThemoodyClydesoonfallsinlovewithNancy'shonestcharmandbeautyNancy,asecretary,introducesClydetoherboss,millionaireAndrewBonner,andpersuadesBonnertoshowcaseClyde'spaintingsatoneofhisprivateshowingsToNancy'sdelight,Clyde'spainting,adepictionofthetragicfigureCassandraforwhichshemodeled,winsfirstprizeattheshowingTheeveningisperfectuntilanexpensivebraceletisstolenfromaguest,andClydelaterfindsitinNancy'spurseAfterClydeconfrontsaconfusedNancyaboutthetheft,sherelatesthefollowingstorytoexplainherbehavior Asayounggirl,NancyliveswithherhousekeepermotherinthelavishWillishomeandplayswithKaren,theWillises'littledaughterAlthoughKarenwantstoinviteNancytoherupcomingbirthdayparty,MrsWillisrefusestoallowthelowerclassNancytoattendAtruefriend,KarenpromisestogiveNancyoneofthepinsherguestsarereceivingWhenKarenrealizestherearenoextrapins,however,sheoffersNancythebeautifullocketshehasjustreceivedfromhermotherNancy'ssubsequentjoyissooncrushedwhenMrsWillisdemandsthatshereturnthelocketLater,thelocketisdiscoveredmissing,andNancyisaccusedoftheftAlthoughNancy'smothersoonfindsthelocketinKaren'sdress,MrsWillisrefusestobelieveNancyandforceshertoconfess TheadultNancythenadmitstoClydethatthischildhoodhumiliationcausedherunconsciousdesiretostealthebraceletatthepartyAfteraforgivingClydereturnsthebraceletanonymously,heandNancycontinuetheirromanceuntilthenextpartyattheBonners'SuspectingthattheabsentNancyisspendingtheeveninginBonner'sarms,ClydeleavesthepartytolookforherandseesherexitingMrsBonner'sbedroomjustaftertwogunshotsarefiredBonnerisfoundmurdered,andMrsBonner'sdiamondnecklace,stolenAlthoughNancyandClydearequestioned,valetMyronDexteriseventuallyfoundguiltyandissentencedtodieClyde,however,stronglysuspectsNancy,butsheangrilymaintainsherinnocenceandleavesforFlorida Backinhisoffice,BlairdefendsNancytoClydebutinviteshimtohishousethateveningWhenconfronted,NancydenieseverythingandtellsBlairthatClydeismerelyjealousThenextday,Dexterisexecuted,andaguiltriddenClydejumpsfromBlair'sofficewindowtohisdeath Toavoidscandal,BlairandNancymovetoEngland,andafterWorldWarIIbreaksout,Blairvolunteershismedicalservices,whileNancybecomesanambulancedriverExpressingconcernoverBlair'shealth,NancyinsiststhattheytakeavacationatLordandLadyWyndham'smanorhouseJustastheyareleaving,BlairlearnsthatoneofLadyWyndham'svaluablejewelshasbeenstolenBlairsuspectsNancybutisunabletoproveanythinguntilabombdestroystheirflatandrevealshercacheofstolenjewels Althoughconfronteddirectly,NancycontinuestodenyanyguiltanddivorcesBlairafterhesuffersanervousbreakdownBackinJohn'sstudy,Blair,likeClydebeforehim,triestoconvinceJohntoabandonNancy,whonowusesthenamePattonJohn,however,believesNancywhenshetellshimthatBlairisstillsufferingfromhisbreakdown Momentsbeforetheweddingistostart,Nancy'sfuturemotherinlaw,theunsuspectingMrsWillis,givesherthesamelocketthatsheoncetookaway,andtellsherthatitisapreciousfamilyheirloomThelocketcausesNancytobeovercomewithguilt,andshecollapsesatthealtarinhystericsAsNancyislatertakenawaytoaninstitution,JohnsadlyrealizesthetruthofBlair'sstory,butdeterminestoseeNancythroughhercrisis
