The string had been attached to a rope, which held on one side, a counterweight. As the string broke, the counterweight pulled down on the rope, which, through a pulley on the ground was connected to a lever. (Patreon)

 The lever was connected to a tiny catapult, which was loaded and carefully aimed. All this meant for Gretchen was that in addition to being de facto spanked by the springboard, her vision was suddenly stolen from her by one of Dacquoise’s famous cream pies.