One day he brought me some water, put ice in it, and discreetly withdrew behind my chair.
I took up the glass, and minutely inspected its contents.
"Epaminondas!" said I.
"Dat's not my name, sah; I'm called Charles."
"Charles, look at this water; there is a snake in it."
Charles took the glass, looked at it, and then, with a reasurring grin, announced:
"It's dead, sah."
"That is comforting," said I; "but it may have left eggs, which will come to life by thousands inside me."
Charles was facetious, and was not to be put out of countenance for such a trifle. He took up the glass again, re-examined it, and replaced it on the table.
"Dere's no danger, sah; it's a male," he said.