"Ah, White Cat never did that, I'm sure."
"Yes, once, when she was invisible. The Prince doubted her. Do you know how it ended?" she asked.
"How?"
"White Cat told the Prince that, to destroy the fatal work of the fairies, it was necessary for him to cut off her head and her tail and fling them into the fire." She put her hand gently upon mine. "Would you do that for me, if I asked it?"
I puzzled with it. There was something tragic in her tone, but I was quite at a loss to interpret her symbolism.
"Would it ever come to that? Are you likely to call on me?" I asked her.
She tipped back her head again, shaking away some unpleasant idea.
"Ah, this is only the first quest, you know. You may never come again to my palace. But would you?"
A dreadful meaning came straight from her eyes to mine.
"No, I'm afraid I would not. It would be too terrible!"