24 希腊群岛(4)
And what thinks our friend Conseil? Ned Land asked.
康塞尔朋友怎样想呢？尼德兰问。
Your friend Conseil, the fine lad replied serenely, has nothing to say for himself.
康塞尔朋友，这个老实人安静地回答，康塞尔朋友没有什么可说的，
He's a completely disinterested party on this question. Like his master, like his comrade Ned, he's a bachelor.
他在这个问题上，是绝对无所谓的。跟他的主人一样，跟他的同伴尼德一样，他是独身的。
Neither wife, parents, nor children are waiting for him back home.
没有女人，没有父母，没有子女在故乡等着他。
He's in master's employ, he thinks like master, he speaks like master, and much to his regret, he can't be counted on to form a majority.
他给先生做事，他同先生一样想，他同先生一样说，他很遗憾，人们不能把他算作一票，凑成大多数。
Only two persons face each other here: master on one side, Ned Land on the other. That said, your friend Conseil is listening, and he's ready to keep score.
现在单单有两个人出席，一边是先生，一边是尼德·兰。这话说过后，康塞尔朋友静听着，他准备记分。
I couldn't help smiling as Conseil wiped himself out of existence.
我看见康塞尔完全取消了他自己，不能不发出微笑。
Deep down, the Canadian must ha一ve been overjoyed at not ha一ving to contend with him.
实际上，加拿大人，看到他不来反对自己，也应该很高兴。
Then, sir, Ned Land said, since Conseil is no more, we'll ha一ve this discussion between just the two of us. I've talked, you've listened. What's your reply?
那么，尼德·兰说，先生，既然康塞尔不存在，我们俩来讨论这问题吧。我说过了，您听到我的诺了。您有话回答吗？
It was obvious that the matter had to be settled, and evasions were distasteful to me.
很明显，要结束一下，作出结论来，躲躲闪闪是我所不愿意的。
Ned my friend, I said, here's my reply. You ha一ve right on your side and my arguments can't stand up to yours.
我说：尼德朋友，我的答复是这样。您反对我，您对。
It will never do to count on Captain Nemo's benevolence. The most ordinary good sense would forbid him to set us free.
我的论证在您的面前站不祝我们不能指望尼摩船长甘心情愿，恢复我们的自一由。
On the other hand, good sense decrees that we take advantage of our first opportunity to lea一ve the Nautilus.
一般人最常有的谨慎也使他不会让我们自一由的。反过来，小心谨慎也要我们来利用第一次机会，脱离诺第留斯号。
Fine, Professor Aronnax, that's wisely said.
对，阿龙纳斯先生，您这些话说得好。
But one proviso, I said, just one. The opportunity must be the real thing.
不过，我说，我要提出一点，单单一点。机会一定要很有把握。
Our first attempt to escape must succeed, because if it misfires, we won't get a second chance, and Captain Nemo will never forgive us.
第一次逃走计划一定要成功。因为，如果失败了，我们就找不到再来一次的机会了，同时尼摩船长也不原谅我们了。