"My uncle. The boys of our house are told when they are fifteen, the girls when they are sixteen. No one else knows."
"And why is that?"
She hesitated, fearing perhaps that her answer would itself 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."
"Sooner than marry you?" I suggested, rather maliciously.
"Yes, if I broke the oath."
"Hang the oath!" said I, impatiently. "The thing might help us. Did they bury Stefan somewhere under the house?"
"No, he was not buried," she answered.