Мхи старой усадьбы
Egotism; or, The Bosom Serpent
Whathasbefallenyou?WhydoIfindyouthus?"
"Oh,’tisamerenothing!Asnake!Asnake!Thecommonestthingintheworld.Asnakeinthebosom—that’sall,"answeredRoderickElliston."Buthowisyourownbreast?"continuedhe,lookingthesculptorintheeyewiththemostacuteandpenetratingglancethatithadeverbeenhisfortunetoencounter."Allpureandwholesome?Noreptilethere?Bymyfaithandconscience,andbythedevilwithinme,hereisawonder!Amanwithoutaserpentinhisbosom!"
"Becalm,Elliston,"whisperedGeorgeHerkimer,layinghishandupontheshoulderofthesnake-possessed."Ihavecrossedtheoceantomeetyou.Listen!Letusbeprivate.IbringamessagefromRosina—fromyourwife!"
"Itgnawsme!Itgnawsme!"mutteredRoderick.
Withthisexclamation,themostfrequentinhismouth,theunfortunatemanclutchedbothhandsuponhisbreastasifanintolerablestingortortureimpelledhimtorenditopenandletoutthelivingmischief,evenshoulditbeintertwinedwithhisownlife.HethenfreedhimselffromHerkimer’sgraspbyasubtlemotion,and,glidingthroughthegate,tookrefugeinhisantiquatedfamilyresidence.Thesculptordidnotpursuehim.Hesawthatnoavailableintercoursecouldbeexpectedatsuchamoment,andwasdesirous,beforeanothermeeting,toinquirecloselyintothenatureofRoderick’sdiseaseandthecircumstancesthathadreducedhimtosolamentableacondition.Hesucceededinobtainingthenecessaryinformationfromaneminentmedicalgentleman.
