‘Now, what does “beneath the earth” mean? You’re one of the house and you must know.’
‘Yes, I know, but I must not tell you. We are all bound by the most sacred oath to tell no one.’
‘Who told you?’
‘My uncle. The boys of our house are told when they are fifteen, the girls when they are sixteen. No one else knows.’
‘Why is that?’
She hesitated, fearing, perhaps, that her answer itself would tend to betray the secret.
‘I dare tell you nothing,’ she said. ‘The oath binds me; and it binds every one of my kindred to kill me if I break it.’
‘But you’ve no kindred left except Constantine,’ I objected.
‘He is enough. He would kill me.’