There was silence as he finished telling the story, but it wasn't the usual, sleepy silence that filled Professor Binns's classes.
故事讲完了,全班一片寂静,但不是平常宾斯教授课堂上的那种睡意昏沉的寂静。
There was unease in the air as everyone continued to watch him, hoping for more. Professor Binns looked faintly annoyed.
每个人都继续盯着他,希望他再讲下去,气氛令人不安,宾斯教授显得微微有些恼火。
“The whole thing is arrant nonsense, of course,” he said.
“当然啦,整个这件事都是一派胡言,”他说道,
“Naturally, the school has been searched for evidence of such a chamber, many times, by the most learned witches and wizards.
“学校里自然调查过到底有没有这样一间密室,调查了许多次,请的都是最有学问的男女巫师。
It does not exist. A tale told to frighten the gullible.”
密室不存在。这只是一个故事,专门吓唬头脑简单的人。”
Hermione's hand was back in the air.
赫敏的手又举在半空中了。
“Sir—what exactly do you mean by the ‘horror within' the Chamber?”
“先生,您刚才说密室‘里面的恐怖东西',指的是什么?”
“That is believed to be some sort of monster, which the Heir of Slytherin alone can control,” said Professor Binns in his dry, reedy voice.
“人们认为是某种怪兽,只有斯莱特林的继承人才能控制。”宾斯教授用他干涩的、细弱的声音说。
The class exchanged nervous looks.
同学们交换了一下紧张的目光。
“I tell you, the thing does not exist,” said Professor Binns, shuffling his notes. “There is no Chamber and no monster.”
“告诉你们,那东两根本就不存在。”宾斯教授笨手笨脚地整理着笔记,说道,“没有密室,也没有怪兽。”