Benjamin was his innocent and devoted spy.
The Vedie trembled before him.

Flore felt herself deserted and utterly helpless.

She began to fear death.

Without knowing how Philippe might manage to kill her, she felt certain that whenever he suspected her of pregnancy her doom would be sealed.

The sound of that voice, the veiled glitter of that gambler's eye, the slightest movement of the soldier, who treated her with a brutality that was still polite, made her shudder.