He smiled a valedictory smile that seemed to make her heart stand still.

She and her mother were now the only women on the balcony.
The others had made haste to withdraw as soon as La Boulaye had been pilloried.

The Marquise remained because she seemed to find entertainment in the spectacle.

Suzanne remained because horror rooted her to the spot--horror and a great pity for this unfortunate who had looked so strong and brave that morning, when he had had the audacity to tell her that he loved her.
The lash sang through the air, quivered, hummed, and cut with a sickening crackle into the young man's flesh.
The hideous sound roused her.

She shuddered from head to foot, and turning she put her hands to her face and rushed within, followed by the Marquise's derisive laughter.
"Mon Dieu! It is horrible! Horrible!" she cried as she sank into the nearest chair, and clapped her hands to her ears.