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The Captain's equanimity was so impenetrable, and he was altogether so mysterious a being, that Perch the messenger was daunted.
船长泰然自若的态度令人高深莫测，而他本人又是那么一位神秘的人物，因此信差珀奇被吓唬住了。
'What name was it you said?' asked Mr Perch, bending down over him as he sat on the bracket.
“您刚才说您姓什么？”珀奇先生向坐在托架上的船长欠身问道。
'Cap'en,' in a deep hoarse whisper.
“我是船长，”他用低沉、嘶哑的低声说道。
'Yes,' said Mr Perch, keeping time with his head.
“是，”珀奇先生急忙点头道。
'Cuttle.'
“姓卡特尔。”
'Oh!' said Mr Perch, in the same tone, for he caught it, and couldn't help it; the Captain, in his diplomacy, was so impressive. 'I'll see if he's disengaged now. I don't know. Perhaps he may be for a minute.'
“哦！”珀奇先生用同样的声调说道，因为他听到了，也不能不听到；船长的外交风度给他留下了很深刻的印象。“我去看看他现在是不是有空，我不知道。也许他可以抽出一分钟。”
'Ay, ay, my lad, I won't detain him longer than a minute,' said the Captain, nodding with all the weighty importance that he felt within him.Perch, soon returning, said, 'Will Captain Cuttle walk this way?'
“行，行，老弟，我耽误他的时间不会超过一分钟，”船长怀着极大的自尊心，点点头，说道。珀奇不一会儿就回来了，说道，“请卡特尔船长往这边走好吗？”
Mr Carker the Manager, standing on the hearth-rug before the empty fireplace, which was ornamented with a castellated sheet of brown paper,looked at the Captain as he came in, with no very special encouragement.
经理卡克先生站在没有生火的、用牛皮纸城形图案装饰着的壁炉前面的地毯上，以不特别欢迎的眼光看着走进的船长。
'Mr Carker?' said Captain Cuttle.
“是卡克先生吗？”船长问道。
'I believe so,' said Mr Carker, showing all his teeth.
“我想是的，”卡克先生露出所有的牙齿，说道。
The Captain liked his answering with a smile; it looked pleasant.
船长对他微笑着回答感到高兴，这看来是令人愉快的。
重点讲解
一.Perhaps:adv.也许, 可能
【词义辨析】
maybe, perhaps, possibly, probably
这些副词均有“或许、大概”之意。
maybe普通用词，美国英语多用，指某事也许如此，含不能确定意味。
perhaps普通用词，多用于英国，与maybe同义。
possibly指客观上潜存着发生某种变化的可能。
probably一般指根据逻辑推理，估计有发生的可能，把握性较大，语气比possibly强。
【例句用法】
Yes, perhaps I'm wrong there.
是的，在这点上也许我错了。
As she's been ill perhaps she'll need some help.
她由于生病可能需要些帮助。
二.believe:v.相信, 认为
【语法用法】
区别believe和believe in的用法，believe someone指“相信某人所为”，believe in someone指“信赖某人的为人可靠”或“相信某人将有所作为”；
如果动词不是be，一般believe后用从句。
I believed (that) you belonged to that company.
我相信你属于那家公司。
当believe为被动语态时，后面习惯接不定式。
You are believed to be honest.
believe可理解为suppose。
She believes she told me,but she is not sure.
她以为已经告诉我了，但她自己也不太肯定。
make believe是习惯用语，意为“假装”。
She made believe to be ill.
句中believe是不定式，但因前面是make，不带特定宾语，所以省略to。
【错句举例与错句分析】
错句: Are you believing what he says?
订正: Do you believe what he says?
翻译: 你相信他所说的吗？
分析: 像believe，like，contain等词不可用进行时态。
【词义辨析】
1.believe, trust, confide, rely
这些动词均含有“相信，信任”之意。
believe普通用词，常表示一种缓和、不太肯定的口气。
trust指绝对相信或信赖某人。
confide侧重忠诚可靠与可信赖。
rely指在相信的基础上可进一步依靠，着重可靠性。
2.believe, believe in
这一对词语都表示“相信不疑”的意思，但词意有细微的区别。
believe表示“相信”、“信以为真”（to accept as true）之意，它是及物动词，其后直接跟宾语。
Do you believe his reports?
你相信他的报告吗？
I could hardly believe my eyes.
我几乎不能相信自己的眼睛。
In ancient times it was believed that the earth was flat.
古时候，人们认为地球是扁平的。
believe in则表示“信仰”、“信任”（to have faith in somebody or something）之意。是一个动介型短语动词。其后的常用搭配语为：有关宗教、理论、

原则、概念及可信任之人，如：a religion, ghosts, fairies, a theory, a friend等词；例中的believe为不及物动词。
We do not believe in ghosts.
我们不信鬼神。
He believes in getting plenty of exercise.
他相信多锻炼身体就会有好处。
In the days of the French Revolution，people believed in liberty，equality and fraternity.
法国大革命时代的人们信奉自由、平等及博爱。
3.consider, think, believe, count, deem, reckon, regard
这些动词均含有“认为”之意。
consider指经过考虑和观察后得出的结论。
think普通用词，指按照自己的意见提出看法。
believe通常指根据一定的证据，经思考后而认为属实。
count指作出判断后而得出的看法等。
deem正式用词，常用于法律、文学，强调作判断而不是思考。
reckon指对人或事作全面“权衡”，把各方面意见考虑进去后得出结论。
regard侧重凭外表或表面现象作判断。多强调观点。
【例句用法】
He thinks that everyone who believes will go to heaven.
他认为凡是信神者都将进天堂。
I believe it to have been a mistake.
我认为这一直就是错的。