他询问探察家，把他们的回忆记录下来。

And if the recollections of any one among them seem interesting to him,

如果他认为其中有个探察家的回忆是有意思的，

the geographer orders an inquiry into that explorer's moral character.

那么地理学家就对这个探察家的品德做一番调查。”

Why is that?

这是为什么呢？

Because an explorer who told lies would bring disaster on the books of the geographer.

因为一个说假话的探察家会给地理书带来灾难性的后果。

So would an explorer who drank too much.

同样，一个太爱喝酒的探察家也是如此。

"Why is that?" asked the little prince.

“这又是为什么？”小王子说。

Because intoxicated men see double.

因为喝醉了酒的人把一个看成两个，

Then the geographer would note down two mountains in a place where there was only one.

那么，地理学家就会把只有一座山的地方写成两座山。

"I know some one," said the little prince, "who would make a bad explorer."

“我认识一个人，他要是搞探察的话，就很可能是个不好的探察员。”小王子说。

That is possible. Then, when the moral character of the explorer is shown to be good,an inquiry is ordered into his discovery.

这是可能的。因此，如果探察家的品德不错，就对他的发现进行调查。

One goes to see it?

去看一看吗？

No. That would be too complicated. But one requires the explorer to furnish proofs.

不。那太复杂了。但是要求探察家提出证据来。

For example, if the discovery in question is that of a large mountain,

例如，假使他发现了一座大山，

one requires that large stones be brought back from it.

就要求他带来一些大石头。

The geographer was suddenly stirred to excitement.

地理学家忽然忙乱起来。

But you， you come from far away! You are an explorer! You shall describe your planet to me!

正好，你是从老远来的么！你是个探察家！你来给我介绍一下你的星球吧！

And, having opened his big register, the geographer sharpened his pencil.

于是，已经打开登记簿的地理学家，削起他的铅笔来。

The recitals of explorers are put down first in pencil.

他首先是用铅笔记下探察家的叙述，

One waits until the explorer has furnished proofs, before putting them down in ink.

等到探察家提出了证据以后再用墨水笔记下来。

"Well?" said the geographer expectantly.

“怎么样？”地理学家询问道。

"Oh, where I live," said the little prince, "it is not very interesting.It is all so small.

“啊！我那里，”小王子说道，没有多大意思，那儿很小。