評論
打印
The idea of using a form of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test
使用一種用任何化學試驗都檢驗不出的毒物，
was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had an Eastern training.
這個念頭正是一個受過東方式鍛煉的聰明而冷酷的人所會想到的。
The rapidity with which such a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be an advantage.
從他的觀點來看，這種毒藥能夠迅速發揮作用也是一個可取之處。
It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could distinguish the two little dark punctures
確實，要是有哪一位驗尸官能夠檢查出那毒牙咬過的兩個小黑洞，
which would show where the poison fangs had done their work.
也就算得上是個眼光敏銳的人了。
Then I thought of the whistle.
接著，我想起了那口哨聲。
Of course he must recall the snake before the morning light revealed it to the victim.
當然，天一亮他就必須把蛇召喚回去，以免他想要謀害的人看到它。
He had trained it, probably by the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned.
他訓練那條蛇能一聽到召喚就回到他那里，很可能就是用我們見到的牛奶。
He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he thought best,
他會在他認為最合適的時候把蛇送過通氣孔，
with the certainty that it would crawl down the rope and land on the bed.
確信它會順著繩子爬到床上。
It might or might not bite the occupant,
蛇也許會咬，也許不會咬床上的人，
perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but sooner or later she must fall a victim.
她也許有可能整整一周每天晚上都僥幸免于遭殃，但她遲早是逃不掉的。
