Professor Salvatori meanwhile had not been hesitating, but with a jaunty stride had stepped to the fore. He wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. Why should a man who had lectured before the Duke of Bavaria care for country bumpkins like these? He wiped his brow with a graceful flourish and cleared his throat pompously.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” said he.
That was a fine starter and the professor gazed at the crowd as much to say “Could you have done any better?” The four fellows chuckled.
“After the most embarrassing eulogy which my old friend, General Smithers, has given me, I am sure I need say nothing more about myself to you. It would be presumptuous and therefore—ahem!—I shall proceed immediately to the business in hand. Now then!”
This graceful introduction over the professor signaled his assistant in a superior way to lift the curtain of a glass case disclosing the “huge” boa constrictor some five feet long.
“In the words of the poem, ladies and gentlemen,” said the professor.
“‘Oh here’s your anaconda boa constrictor
Oft called anaconda for brevity.
He’s noted the world throughout
For his age and great longevity.