The best among us would have flinched, unless under the influence of the very strongest personal affection, from the double peril of which you seemed to think so lightly.

They might indeed have defied the Regent but it would have been in reliance on the protection of, a power superior to his of which you knew nothing." "Then," I said, "I suppose your engagement of to-day was a meeting of this society ?" "Yes," he answered, "a meeting of the Chamber to which I and the elder members of my household, including my son and his wife, belong." "But," I said, "if you are more powerful than the rulers of your people, what need of such careful secrecy ?" "You will understand the reason," he answered, "when you learn the nature of our powers.

Hundreds among millions, we are no match for the fighting force of our unbelieving countrymen.

Our safety lies in the terror inspired by a tradition, verified by repeated and invariable experience, that no one who injures one of us but has reason to rue it, that no mortal enemy of _the Star_ has ever escaped signal punishment, more terrible for the mystery attending it.

Were we known, were our organisation avowed, we might be hunted down and exterminated, and should certainly suffer frightful havoc, even if in the end we were able to frighten or overcome our enemies.