“And why?” asked Hilary. “Surely it is a fascinating study to those who can believe in the secrets.”
“Scepticism is not the great difficulty,” answered the Princess, “but fear. Terror turns the crowd back from the threshold. Only a few dare cross it.”
“And you are one of the few,” said Hilary, gazing on her with eyes of burning admiration.
“I have never felt fear,” she answered.
“And would it be impossible to make you feel it, I wonder,” said Hilary.
“Do you desire to try?” she answered, with a smile at his daring speech. It did not sound so full of impertinence as it looks, for Hilary’s eyes and face were all alight with love and admiration, and his voice trembled with passion.
“You can make the attempt if you choose,” she said, glancing at him with those strange eyes of hers. “Terrify me if you can.”
“Not here, in my own house, it would not be hospitable.”
“Come and see me, then, some day when you think it will amuse you. Try and frighten me. I will show you my laboratory, where I produce essences and incenses to please the gnomes and ghouls.”
Hilary accepted this invitation with a flush of pleasure.