Suddenly I felt a mild jolt. I realized the Nautilus had come to rest on the ocean floor. My alarm increased.  忽然，我感到一下轻微的冲撞。我明白，诺第留斯号是停在大洋底下的地上了。我心中更加不安起来。

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. 加拿大人的信号不给我发出来。我很想出去找他，要他改期执行他的计划。我感觉到，我们的航行不是在平常的情况中进行的…

Just then the door to the main lounge opened and Captain Nemo appeared. He saw me, and without further preamble: 这时候，客厅的门开了，尼摩船长进来。他看见了我，没有什么寒暄客套话，池用亲热的语气说：

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。您知道西班牙的历史吗？

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. 就算是一个很熟悉自己本国的历史的人，但在我所处的情况中，心中恍饱，头脑昏乱，他也不可能说出一句话来。

Well? Captain Nemo went on. Did you hear my question? Do you know the history of Spain? 那么，尼摩船长立即又说，您听到了我提出的问题吗？您知道西班牙的历史吗？

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. 许多学者都是这样，他们不知道，船长说，那么，您请坐，他又说，我要告诉您这个国家历史的一段新奇事件。

The captain stretched out on a couch, and I mechanically took a seat near him, but half in the shadows. 船长躺在一张安乐椅上，我机械地坐在他近边淡淡的阴影中。

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，我说，请您听我说。这历史在某一方面可以使您很感兴趣，因为它回答了您不能解决的一个问题。

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. 船长，我听您说。我说。我不知道我的对话人要说什么，我心中想，这件事是不是跟我们的逃走计划有关系。