For the past ten years, Conseil had gone with me wherever science beckoned. 十年来，直到现在，凡我为科学而去的地方，康塞尔都跟我去。

Not once did he comment on the length or the hardships of a journey.

他自己从不想到旅行的长久或疲劳。

Never did he object to buckling up his suitcase for any country whatever, China or the Congo, no matter how far off it was.

不管有多远，不管去什么地方，去中国或是去刚果，

He went here, there, and everywhere in perfect contentment.

他总是提起他的行李箱立即出发他到哪里去都一样，连问也不问。

Moreover, he enjoyed excellent health that defied all ailments, owned solid muscles, but hadn't a nerve in him, not a sign of nerves,the mental type, I mean.

他身体健康，肌肉结实，不在乎疾病，一点也不神经质，就是好像不会用脑子似的，至于思考能力，那就更谈不到了。

The lad was thirty years old, and his age to that of his employer was as fifteen is to twenty.

这个人三十岁了，他的年龄跟他主人的年龄的比例是十五比二十。

Please forgive me for this underhanded way of admitting I had turned forty.

请读者原谅我用这种说法来说我现在是四十岁可是康塞尔有缺点，

But Conseil had one flaw. He was a fanatic on formality, and he only addressed me in the third person--to the point where it got tiresome.

过份讲究礼貌，他总是用第三人称跟我说话，有时甚至叫人听了厌烦。

Conseil!I repeated, while feverishly beginning my preparations for departure.

康塞尔!我又叫了一声，我手里忙着准备出发的行装。

To be sure, I had confidence in this devoted lad.

当然，对于这样一个忠心的仆人我是信任的。

Ordinarily, I never asked whether or not it suited him to go with me on my journeys; but this time an expedition was at issue that could drag on indefinitely, a hazardousundertaking whose purpose was to hunt an animal that could sink a frigate as easily as a walnut shell!

通常我从不问他是不是愿意跟我去旅行，但这次旅行有点不同，是一次期限可以无限延长的远征，是凶多吉少的冒险，是追赶能像敲碎核桃壳一样撞沉一艘二级战舰的动物。

There was good reason to stop and think, even for the world's most emotionless man.

就是最没有感觉的人，对这问题也得考虑考虑吧!