The silence was further disturbed only by the pounding of my heart.
這時的沉寂只有被我的心臟的跳動打斷了。
Suddenly I felt a mild jolt. I realized the Nautilus had come to rest on the ocean floor. My alarm increased.
忽然,我感到一下輕微的沖撞。我明白,諾第留斯號是停在大洋底下的地上了。我心中更加不安起來。
The Canadian's signal hadn't reached me. I longed to rejoin Ned Land and urge him to postpone his attempt. I sensed that we were no longer navigating under normal conditions.
加拿大人的信號不給我發(fā)出來。我很想出去找他,要他改期執(zhí)行他的計劃。我感覺到,我們的航行不是在平常的情況中進行的…
Just then the door to the main lounge opened and Captain Nemo appeared. He saw me, and without further preamble:
這時候,客廳的門開了,尼摩船長進來。他看見了我,沒有什么寒暄客套話,池用親熱的語氣說:
Ah, professor, he said in an affable tone, I've been looking for you. Do you know your Spanish history?
啊!教授,我正找您哩。您知道西班牙的歷史嗎?
Even if he knew it by heart, a man in my disturbed, befuddled condition couldn't have quoted a syllable of his own country's history.
就算是一個很熟悉自己本國的歷史的人,但在我所處的情況中,心中恍飽,頭腦昏亂,他也不可能說出一句話來。
Well? Captain Nemo went on. Did you hear my question? Do you know the history of Spain?
那么,尼摩船長立即又說,您聽到了我提出的問題嗎?您知道西班牙的歷史嗎?
Very little of it, I replied.
知道得很少。我回答。
The most learned men, the captain said, still have much to learn. Have a seat, he added, and I'll tell you about an unusual episode in this body of history.
許多學者都是這樣,他們不知道,船長說,那么,您請坐,他又說,我要告訴您這個國家歷史的一段新奇事件。
The captain stretched out on a couch, and I mechanically took a seat near him, but half in the shadows.
船長躺在一張安樂椅上,我機械地坐在他近邊淡淡的陰影中。
Professor, he said, listen carefully. This piece of history concerns you in one definite respect, because it will answer a question you've no doubt been unable to resolve.
教授,我說,請您聽我說。這歷史在某一方面可以使您很感興趣,因為它回答了您不能解決的一個問題。
I'm listening, captain, I said, not knowing what my partner in this dialogue was driving at, and wondering if this incident related to our escape plans.
船長,我聽您說。我說。我不知道我的對話人要說什么,我心中想,這件事是不是跟我們的逃走計劃有關系。