"When I can with honour, not before; and that will never be till he is dead, I fear; and his life is as good as mine. So, hey for natural history, and quiet domestic life, and happiness with my English friends! Now, am I wise or not?"
"I fear not," she said.
The Doctor laughed, and taking her hand, kissed it gallantly; by this time we had all turned round, and were coming in.
"Now, Doctor," said the Major, "If you have done flirting with Miss Thornton, look at this snake."
"A noble beast, indeed," said the Doctor. "Friend," he added to Lee, "if you don't want him, I will take him off your hands for a sum of money. He shall be pickled, as I live."
"He is very venomous, sir," said Lee. "The blacks eat 'em, it's true, but they always cut the head off first. I'd take the head off, sir, before I ventured to taste him."
We all laughed at Lee's supposing that the Doctor meant to make a meal of the deadly serpent, and Lee laughed as loudly as anybody.
"You see, sir," he said, "I've always heard that you French gents ate frogs, so I didn't know as snakes would come amiss."
"Pray, don't take me for a Frenchman, my good lad," said the Doctor; "and as for frogs, they are as good as chickens."
"Well, I've eaten guaners myself," said Lee, "though I can't say much for them. They're uglier than snakes any way."