Passage 6 A Story in India from Reader's Digest 19...
Iheard this story in India，where it is told as if true—though any naturalistwould know it couldn't be.Later I learned that a magazine version of it appeared shortly before the First World War.This account，and its author，Ihave never been able to track down.
The country is India.A colonial official and hiswife are giving a large dinner party.They are seated with their guests—army officers and government attaches and theirwives，a visiting American naturalist—in their spacious dining room，which has a bare marble floor，open rafters and wide glass doors opening unto a veranda.
A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who insists that women have outgrown the jumping-on-the-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a colonel who says they haven't.
“A woman's unfailing reaction in any crisis，”the colonel says， “It's to scream.And while amanmay feel like it，he has that ouncemore of nerve control than a woman has.And that last ounce is what counts.”
The American doesnot join in the argumentbutwatches the other guests.Ashe looks，he sees a strange expression come over the face of the hostess.She is staring straight ahead，her muscles contracting slightly.With a slight gesture she summons the native boy standing behind her chair，and whispers to him.
Of the guests，none except the American notices this or sees boy play a bowl ofmilk on the veranda just outside the open doors.
The American comes towith a start.In India，milk in a bowlmeans only one thing—bait for a snake.He realizes there must be a cobra in the room.He looks up at the rafters—the likest place—but they are bare.Three corners of the room are empty，and in the fourth the servants are waiting to serve the next course.There is only one place left—under the table.
His first impulse is to jump back and warn the others，buthe knows the commotion would frighten the cobra into striking.He speaks quickly，the tone of his voice so arresting that it sobers everyone.
“Iwant to know justwhat control everyone at this table has.Iwill count three hundred—that's fiveminutes—and not one of you is to move a muscle.Those who move will forfeit 50 rupees.Ready！”
The 20 people sit like stone imageswhile he counts.When he is saying“...two hundred and eighty...”，out of the corner of his eyes，he sees the cobra emerge and makes for the bowl ofmilk.Screams ring out as he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut.
“You were right，colonel！”the hostexclaims，“Aman has just shown us an example of perfect control.”
“Just aminute，”the American says，turning to his hostess.“Mrs.Wynnes，how did you know that cobra was in the room？”
A faint smile light up the woman's face as she replies：“Because itwas crawling across my foot.”
参考译文：(https://www.daowen.com)
一个发生在印度的故事
这个故事我最初是在印度听到的，那里的人们讲起这个故事来像真有其事似的，尽管自然科学者对此并不相信。后来，我了解到，一战前有个杂志也发表过这个故事。但它究竟源自何处？作者是谁？我至今也未能查个水落石出。
故事所讲的国家是印度。有位殖民官员和他的妻子在家里举行盛大宴会。宴席设在宽敞的餐厅里，室内是大理石地板，并无地毯，有裸露的椽子，还有通向玻璃门的宽大通道。就座的宴客中有陆军军官、政府官员及其夫人，另外还有一位来访的美国自然学家。
席间，一位年轻的女士同一位上校展开了热烈的辩论。女士坚持认为，妇女如今已有进步，不再是那种一见老鼠就吓得跳起来的妇女。上校则认为妇女还没有改变，他说：“妇女一遇到危急情况，必然是大惊失色，发出刺耳的叫喊声。男人虽也会有一样的惊恐，但和妇女比起来要多那么一点胆量，能够处之泰然。而这最后的一点胆量却极为重要。”
那位美国客人并未参加这场争论，只是把眼光转向在座的其他客人。在他环顾的时候，发现女主人脸色异常，两眼直愣愣地望着前方，脸上的肌肉有点紧张。她向站在她后面的印度男仆微微做了个手势，示意他过来，然后对他耳语一番，仆人睁大了眼睛，随即匆匆离去。
在座的客人除了那美国人都没有注意到这个细节，也没有看到那个男仆将一碗牛奶放在仅靠门边的走廊上。
见此情景，那美国人猛然一下醒悟过来。在印度，把牛奶放在碗里只有一个意思，那就是用来引诱蛇。他意识到室内一定有条毒蛇。他抬头扫视屋顶上的椽子（那里是蛇最可能出没的地方），但没有。再看看室内，三个角落都是空荡荡的，第四个角落站着几个仆人，在等候上下一道菜。蛇可能在什么地方呢？只有唯一的一个地方，那就是餐桌下。
他最初情不自禁地想转身往后跳，并且警告在座的所有人，但转念一想，这样做会惊动毒蛇向人进攻。于是，他讲了一段话，语调急而不迫，十分引人注意，大家也都安静地听着。
“我想试试在座的诸位到底有多大的克制能力。我先数三百，大约五分钟，谁都不许动。谁要是动了就罚五十卢比。预备，开始！”
宾主二十人，在他数数时都像一尊尊石佛端坐在那里。当他数到“……二百八十……”时，他眼角里瞥到一个东西，一看是一条眼镜蛇正向那碗牛奶爬过去。他一个箭步跑过去把通向走廊的门统统关上，室内当即响起一片尖叫声。
“上校，你说得没错！”男主人感叹道，“刚才给我们大家做出从容不迫、镇定自若的榜样的就是一位男士。”
“请等一下，”那位美国人边说边转身问女主人：“请问威妮斯夫人，你当时怎么知道室内有蛇呢？”
女主人展现出一丝淡淡的笑容，回答说：“因为它正从我的脚背上爬过去啊。”