Sentence:  This is the reason too for the <WSD>cat-and-mousing</WSD> of Wilmarth: the Plutonians must spend hours making hintful revelations to him after they have him in their power, simply because this will maximize his scare. Lovecraft must <WSD>cat-and-mouse</WSD> with us as well, interminably exploiting the hesitations and reluctances of his narrator to tell us what the basic horror is. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To toy with (one's victim).