"Yikes! Who in Hades ever believed in them?" the Canadian exclaimed. “哎！鬼才相信呢！”加拿大人喊道。

Many people, Ned my friend, I said."No fishermen. Scientists maybe!" “有很多人相信呢，尼德朋友。” “渔人就不会相信。学者就可能会相信！” 

"Pardon me, Ned. Fishermen and scientists!" “不好意思，尼德。一些学者和一些渔人都相信。” 

"Why, I to whom you speak," Conseil said with the world's straightest face,  “但我跟您说，”康塞尔神情无比严肃地说，

"I recall perfectly seeing a large boat dragged under the waves by the arms of a cephalopod." “我清楚地记得，我曾经见过一艘大船被一只头足类动物的爪子拖到水里去。”

"You saw that?" the Canadian asked. Yes, Ned. “您看过吗？”加拿大人问。“是的，尼德。” 

"With your own two eyes?" “您亲眼看到的？”

With my own two eyes.  “亲眼看到的。” 

"Where, may I ask? “那请问，在哪里看到？”

In Saint-Malo, Conseil returned unflappably. “在圣—马洛港，”康塞尔冷静地回答说。 

"In the harbor?" Ned Land said sarcastically. “在一个港口？”尼德·兰嘲讽地说。

"No, in a church," Conseil replied."  “不，在一座教堂里。”康塞尔回答说。 

In a church!" the Canadian exclaimed." “在一座教堂里！”加拿大人喊道。 

Yes, Ned my friend. It had a picture that portrayed the devilfish in question." “是的，尼德朋友。是一幅描绘章鱼的图画。”

"Oh good!" Ned Land exclaimed with a burst of laughter.  “好啊！”尼德·兰说着，放声大笑，

"Mr. Conseil put one over on me!" “康塞尔先生在跟我开玩笑呢！” 

"Actually he's right," I said. “事实上，他是对的，”我说，

"I've heard about that picture.  “我听说过这幅图画；

But the subject it portrays is taken from a legend, and you know how to rate legends in matters of natural history!  虽然它取裁于一个传说，但您知道应该怎样看待与博物史有关的传说！

Besides, when it's an issue of monsters, the human imagination always tends to run wild.  再说，一说到这种怪物，人们就会突发奇想。