Summary

In Chapter 21, on the drive to Penzance, Ezra told Hal that he had no interest in the house, it had never been a home, and that she could do with it what she wanted. They drove in silence for a while before Hal asked Ezra if he spoke French and could interpret the phrase “après moi, le déluge” (173) for her. Ezra told her “It means either, ‘after I go, everything will collapse into chaos, because I have been the only person holding up the dam,’ or else something even darker” (173-174).

In Chapter 22, Ezra and Hal arrived late for the appointment with the lawyer and learned they would all have to stay until Monday for a new appointment. Harding informed Ezra he would have to stay as well because Harding, Ezra, and Abel were named as co-executors in the will. On...