There was froth
upon his lips; it dropped off in flakes. Strong convulsions ran
through his body, making almost serpentine undulations. He bent
himself at the waist, shifting his legs from side to side. And
every movement left him a little nearer to the snake. He thrust
his hands forward to brace himself back, yet constantly advanced
upon his elbows.
IV
Dr. Druring and his wife sat in the library. The scientist was in
rare good humor.
"I have just obtained, by exchange with another collector," he
said, "a splendid specimen of the Ophiophagus."
"And what may that be?" the lady inquired with a somewhat languid
interest.
"Why, bless my soul, what profound ignorance! My dear, a man who
ascertains after marriage that his wife does not know Greek, is
entitled to a divorce. The Ophiophagus is a snake which eats other
snakes."
"I hope it will eat all yours," she said, absently shifting the
lamp. "But how does it get the other snakes? By charming them, I
suppose."
"That is just like you, dear," said the doctor, with an affectation
of petulance. "You know how irritating to me is any allusion to
that vulgar superstition about the snake's power of fascination.
Pages:
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186