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;
这只软体动物的两壳是半张开的。船长走向前去，把短刀插入两壳间，使它们不能再合拢。
then with his hands he raised the fringed, membrane-filled tunic that made up the animal's mantle.
然后他用手把两壳边挂着的，作为这动物的外套的膜皮弄开。
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，叶状的皱纹间，我看见一颗可以自由掷动的珍珠，跟椰子一般粗大。它的球圆形状，它的完全透明：它的无比宝光，使它成为价值不可估计的稀有珍宝。
Carried away by curiosity, I stretched out my hand to take it, weigh it, fondle it!
我为好奇心所动，伸手去拿这珠，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.
但船长阻止我，作个不要动的手势，他很快抽出他的短刀，让两片介壳立即合拢来。
I then understood Captain Nemo's intent.
我于是明白了尼摩船长的企图。
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.
把这颗珍珠塞在那只车渠的衣膜里面，无形中这珠就可以渐渐大起来了。每年，那软体动物的分泌物都在环绕珍珠周围的薄膜上累积起来。
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.
只有尼摩船长才认得这个天然的先比的果实在其中“成熟”的腔洞；又可以说，只是他自己把这颗珍珠培养起来，有一天他可以拿来摆在他那满自琳琅的陈列室中。
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，他可以照中国人和印度人的办法来决定一颗珍珠的生产。那就是把一块玻璃片和金属物塞人这软体动物的内部皱折里面，螺钢质渐渐把它包裹起来变成珍珠。
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.
不管怎样，把这珠跟我所认得的珠比较，跟船长所收藏的珠比较。都是更为珍贵的。我估计这珠的价值至少是一千万法郎。
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.
它是天然的奇珍异宝，不是奢侈的装饰品，因为，我想恐怕没有女人的耳朵能吃得住这颗大珠。