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The mollusk's two valves were partly open. The captain approached and stuck his dagger vertically between the shells to discourage any ideas about closing;
這只軟體動物的兩殼是半張開的。船長走向前去，把短刀插入兩殼間，使它們不能再合攏。
then with his hands he raised the fringed, membrane-filled tunic that made up the animal's mantle.
然后他用手把兩殼邊掛著的，作為這動物的外套的膜皮弄開。
There, between its leaflike folds, I saw a loose pearl as big as a coconut. Its globular shape, perfect clarity, and wonderful orient made it a jewel of incalculable value.
在膜皮里面，葉狀的皺紋間，我看見一顆可以自由擲動的珍珠，跟椰子一般粗大。它的球圓形狀，它的完全透明：它的無比寶光，使它成為價值不可估計的稀有珍寶。
Carried away by curiosity, I stretched out my hand to take it, weigh it, fondle it!
我為好奇心所動，伸手去拿這珠，要掂一掂它的分量，摩摩它！
But the captain stopped me, signaled no, removed his dagger in one swift motion, and let the two valves snap shut.
但船長阻止我，作個不要動的手勢，他很快抽出他的短刀，讓兩片介殼立即合攏來。
I then understood Captain Nemo's intent.
我于是明白了尼摩船長的企圖。
By leaving the pearl buried beneath the giant clam's mantle, he allowed it to grow imperceptibly. With each passing year the mollusk's secretions added new concentric layers.
把這顆珍珠塞在那只車渠的衣膜里面，無形中這珠就可以漸漸大起來了。每年，那軟體動物的分泌物都在環繞珍珠周圍的薄膜上累積起來。
The captain alone was familiar with the cave where this wonderful fruit of nature was "ripening"; he alone reared it, so to speak, in order to transfer it one day to his dearly beloved museum.
只有尼摩船長才認得這個天然的先比的果實在其中“成熟”的腔洞；又可以說，只是他自己把這顆珍珠培養起來，有一天他可以拿來擺在他那滿自琳瑯的陳列室中。
Perhaps, following the examples of oyster farmers in China and India, he had even predetermined the creation of this pearl by sticking under the mollusk's folds some piece of glass or metal that was gradually covered with mother-of-pearl.
甚至于，他可以照中國人和印度人的辦法來決定一顆珍珠的生產。那就是把一塊玻璃片和金屬物塞人這軟體動物的內部皺折里面，螺鋼質漸漸把它包裹起來變成珍珠。
In any case, comparing this pearl to others I already knew about, and to those shimmering in the captain's collection, I estimated that it was worth at least 10,000,000 francs.
不管怎樣，把這珠跟我所認得的珠比較，跟船長所收藏的珠比較。都是更為珍貴的。我估計這珠的價值至少是一千萬法郎。
It was a superb natural curiosity rather than a luxurious piece of jewelry, because I don't know of any female ear that could handle it.
它是天然的奇珍異寶，不是奢侈的裝飾品，因為，我想恐怕沒有女人的耳朵能吃得住這顆大珠。
