The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce — Volume 2: In the Midst of Life: Tales of Soldiers and Civilians

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 that 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 a snake’s power of fascination.”

The conversation was interrupted by a mighty cry, which rang through the silent house like the voice of a demon shouting in a tomb!  Again and yet again it sounded, with terrible distinctness.  They sprang to their feet, the man confused, the lady pale and speechless with fright.  Almost before the echoes of the last cry had died away the doctor was out of the room, springing up the stairs two steps at a time.  In the corridor in front of Brayton’s chamber he met some servants who had come from the upper floor.  Together they rushed at the door without knocking.  It was unfastened and gave way.  Brayton lay upon his stomach on the floor, dead.  His head and arms were partly concealed under the foot rail of the bed.  They pulled the body away, turning it upon the back.  The face was daubed with blood and froth, the eyes were wide open, staring—­a dreadful sight!

“Died in a fit,” said the scientist, bending his knee and placing his hand upon the heart.  While in that position, he chanced to look under the bed.  “Good God!” he added, “how did this thing get in here?”

He reached under the bed, pulled out the snake and flung it, still coiled, to the center of the room, whence with a harsh, shuffling sound it slid across the polished floor till stopped by the wall, where it lay without motion.  It was a stuffed snake; its eyes were two shoe buttons.