16 Nicolas-Jacques Conte

16 Nicolas-Jacques Conte Peanut and Rockwell skidded to a stop in the library's reference section, having run at full speed through the corridors to get there. They had about ten minutes to do their research before the bell went for their next lesson. "Tell me again: why don't we just google it when we get home?" asked Peanut, mindful of the fact that mobile phones were banned at St Hubert's. "No time like the present, replied Rockwell. "You do want to find your dad, don't you? Anyway, can't you smell it?" "Smell what? Oh no. You haven't, have you?" "No!" shouted Rockwell, blushing. "I mean, can't you smell the knowledge?"

16 尼古拉-雅克·孔特 皮纳特和罗克韦尔一路全速冲过走廊，在图书馆的参考资料区猛地停了下来。 离下节课上课铃响，他们只剩大概十分钟查资料了。 "再跟我说一遍，我们为啥不回家搜谷歌啊？"皮纳特问道，他清楚圣于贝尔学校明令禁止带手机。 "现在的时间最宝贵，"罗克韦尔回答。 "你也想找到你爸爸，对不对？ 再说了，你没闻到吗？" "闻到什么？ 哦天呐。 你没闻到，对不对？" "才没有！"罗克韦尔红着脸大喊。 "我是说，你没闻到知识的味道吗？"

"I don't know about any "knowledge" but I can definitely smell these musty old books. This dictionary must be from the nineties. It's ancient!" "I love the smell of libraries," said Rockwell wistfully. All those pages full of facts, opinion and analysis. Don't get me wrong, computers are great and everything, but there is nothing like a bit of analogue action when it comes to learning. One day I'm going to have an entire section in this room dedicated to me and my wisdom. You just wait and see. I'm sure you're right," said Peanut. "But in the meantime, let's look up what "LORE" means, shall we?" She pulled the dictionary from the shelf, blew the dust off the cover, opened it and started flicking through the "L" section. Ah. Here it is!" she shouted. LORE {lor} noun Collective knowledge or wisdom on a particular subject, especially of a traditional nature Knowledge or learning Teachings, or something that is taught (archaic) "Knowledge! It says knowledge! See? I told you I could smell it," said Rockwell, smiling. "I don't understand," Peanut said. "What collective

"我不知道什么"知识"的味道啦，不过我确实闻到这些旧书发霉的味道了。 这本词典肯定是九十年代的。 太古老了！" "我超喜欢图书馆的味道，"罗克韦尔怅然道。 每一页都写满了事实、观点和分析。 别误会我，电脑什么的也挺好，但要说学习，还是这种纸质体验最棒。 将来我要在这个房间留一整个区域，放我和我的智慧结晶。 你就等着瞧吧。 我相信你说的，"皮纳特说。 "不过趁现在，我们来查查"LORE"是什么意思，好不好？" 她把词典从书架抽出来，吹掉封面上的灰，翻开开始翻L字母开头的部分。 啊。 找到了！" 她大喊道。 传说 {lor} 名词 特定主题的集体知识或智慧，尤指传统传承；知识，学识；教义，教诲（古义） "就是知识！ 上面写了是知识！ 看到没？ 我说我闻得到吧，"罗克韦尔笑着说。 "我没懂，"皮纳特说。 "什么集体

knowledge or wisdom? What teachings? Rockwell? Rockwell?" He had moved further down the aisle and was leafing through the biggest book that Peanut had ever seen in her life. He was doing his best to turn the pages while he held on to it with both arms. It looked super-heavy. "Need some help?" asked Peanut. "Yes please," puffed Rockwell. "I thought I'd grab this encyclopaedia and look up who the inventor of the pencil was. See if it tells us anything about ours. "That's actually a really good idea," said Peanut as she helped Rockwell lower the book to the floor. "Hang on a second. What do you mean, "ours"?" Right. Let's have a look," said Rockwell, ignoring her. "Yes. Here we are. "The History of the Pencil". "His expression intensified as he read the entry. "Well?" said Peanut impatiently. It says here that it was invented by some French bloke called Nicolas-Jacques Conte in the eighteenth century. Basically, the British wouldn't sell France any graphite, so he decided to mix what powdered graphite they had with clay, and make the lead that way. Then he clamped it between two half-cylinders of wood to make the first ever version of the handy drawing implement we all know and love." "Hmm, so maybe our pencil is French, then, mused Peanut. "Oh, so it is ours, then?" said Rockwell, smiling.

知识还是智慧？ 什么教义？ 罗克韦尔？ 罗克韦尔？" 他已经走到过道深处，正翻着一本皮纳特这辈子见过最大的书。 他两只胳膊抱着书，费劲地翻动书页。 这本书看起来超级重。 "需要帮忙吗？"皮纳特问。 "麻烦啦，"罗克韦尔喘着气说。 "我想着拿这本百科全书查查，铅笔的发明者是谁。 看看能不能找到和我们那支有关的线索。" "这主意其实很不错，"皮纳特一边说一边帮罗克韦尔把书放到地上。 "等一下。 你说"我们那支"是什么意思？" 好了。 我们来找找看，"罗克韦尔无视了她的问题，自顾自说道。 "对了。 就是这里。 "《铅笔的历史》。" 他读词条的时候，神情渐渐严肃起来。 "怎么样？"皮纳特不耐烦地问。 这里说铅笔是十八世纪一个叫尼古拉-雅克·孔特的法国人发明的。 大体来说，当时英国不肯卖给法国石墨，所以他就把仅有的石墨粉和黏土混合，做成了笔芯。 之后他把笔芯夹在两块半圆木块中间，做出了第一支我们如今都熟悉又喜爱的便携绘画工具。" "唔，那说不定我们那支铅笔是法国的，"皮纳特沉思道。 "哦，那它可不就是我们的了嘛？"罗克韦尔笑着说。

DRING!! The end-of-lunch bell almost deafened the pair. Rockwell slammed the encyclopaedia shut and heaved it back on to the shelf. Gotta run, Peanut! Double chemistry now, and Mrs Bloyce does not appreciate lateness.

叮铃铃！！ 午餐结束的铃声差点把两人震聋了。 罗克韦尔砰地合上百科全书，使劲把它塞回书架上。 皮纳特，我得赶紧走了！ 这节是双倍化学课，布洛伊丝老师最讨厌迟到了。

"OK. Er, shall we meet at the end of school then and see if we can find out anything else?" asked Peanut. "Can't. Chess Club. I'll call for you in the morning and we'll work out what to do next. OK?" "OK. But remember, this doesn't mean "I know, I know," he said, smiling. "This doesn't mean we're friends. I'll see you in the morning.

"好的。 呃，那我们放学碰面再接着查别的线索好不好？"皮纳特问道。 "不行哦。 我要去象棋社。 我明早去找你，再一起商量接下来怎么做。 行吗？" "行。 不过你记住，这不代表……""我知道我知道，"他笑着说。 "这不代表我们就是朋友了。 明早见。