She had concealed the discovery of the will with an unswerving determination.

It was for Louis, it was for his peace, for the ease of his fading life, and she had no repentance.

Yet there it was, that curious, useless concession to old prejudices, the little touch of hypocrisy--she left the will where she had found it.

She had never looked at it since, no matter how great the temptation, and sometimes this was overpowering.
To-day it overpowered her.

The house was very still and the blinds were drawn to shut out the heat, but the soft din of the locusts came through the windows.