1. “As he looks, he sees a strange expression come over the face of the hostess.” 3

2. “A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party.” 1

3. “He is saying “. . . two hundred and eighty. . .” when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the cobra emerge and make for the bowl of milk.” 4

4. “With a slight gesture she summons the native boy standing behind her chair and whispers to him.” 3

5. “A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who insists that women have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a colonel who says that they haven’t.” 2

6. “Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the boy place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors.” 3

7. “A faint smile lights up the woman’s face as she replies: ‘Because it was crawling across my foot.’” 6

8. “’You were right, colonel!’ the host exclaims. ‘A man has just shown us an example of perfect control.’” 5