csf.thecommodore-第25节

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　well　and　good。　Otherwise　he　would　have　to　devise　some　other　plan。
　〃The　telegraph　hasn't　ceased　working　since　Basse　reached　shore；〃　mented　Bush；　glass　to　eye。　The　three　gaunt　black　arms　of　the　semaphore　on　the　top　of　the　fortress　were　whirling　busily　round　transmitting　messages　to　the　next　station　higher　up　the　bay。　Otherwise　there　was　almost　nothing　to　be　seen；　across　the　low　land　of　the　island　were　visible　a　few　masts　to　mark　the　site　of　the　naval　dockyard；　two　or　three　merchant　ships　swung　at　anchor　in　that　direction；　and　a　few　fishing…boats　plied　their　trade。
　〃There　goes　a　boat！〃　said　Montgomery　suddenly。
　A　smart　pinnace　was　shooting　out　from　the　direction　of　the　dockyard　heading　across　the　channel　almost　directly　away　from　Nonsuch。
　〃Russian　Imperial　colours；〃　said　Bush。　〃Can　anyone　see　who's　onboard？〃
　But　the　pinnace　was　too　far　away　for　any　details　to　be　visible　by　telescope。
　〃I　think　I　can　see　gold　lace；〃　said　Carlin；　doubtfully。
　〃Much　good　that　is；〃　said　Bush。　〃A　blind　man　would　guess　there　was　gold　lace　in　a　Russian　navy　pinnace　at　Kronstadt。〃
　The　pinnace　passed　away　into　the　distance；　quartering　across　the　broad　channel　until　her　white　sail　dwindled　to　a　speck。
　〃Call　me　if　anything　happens；　if　you　please；　Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower。
　He　went　off　below　to　his　cabin；　Brown　relieved　him　of　his　heavy　full…dress　coat　with　the　epaulettes；　and；　once　more　alone；　he　began　to　fidget　about　the　cabin。　He　opened　the　case　of　pistols　which　Barbara　had　given　him；　read　the　card　inside　it　…　the　last　word　he　had　received　from　her　…　and　shut　the　case　again。　He　stepped　out　into　the　stern　gallery　and　returned　to　the　cabin。　The　realization　that　he　was　worried　annoyed　him；　he　took　down　Archdeacon　Coxe's　travels　from　the　bookshelf　and　set　himself　seriously　to　read　the　Archdeacon's　intensely　wearisome　remarks　about　the　condition　of　Russia；　in　the　endeavour　to　inform　himself　more　fully　about　the　northern　powers。　But　the　words　made　sheer　nonsense　to　him；　he　took　up　the　slim　volume　of　Childe　Harold　instead。
　〃Bombast　and　fustian；〃　he　said　to　himself；　flipping　through　the　pages。
　He　heard　six　bells　strike；　it　was　still　no　later　than　eleven　in　the　morning；　and　he　could　not　possibly　dine　before　two。
　He　got　up　from　his　chair　and　made　himself　lie　on　his　cot；　shut　his　eyes　and　grimly　clenched　his　hands　and　tried　to　force　himself　to　doze。　He　could　not　possibly　go　up　on　deck　again　and　walk　up　and　down；　as　he　wanted　to　…　that　would　be　a　public　admission　that　he　was　restless　and　nervous。　The　minutes　passed　on　leaden　feet；　he　felt　he　had　never　felt　so　caged　and　unhappy　before　in　his　life。
　Eight　bells　went；　and　he　heard　the　watch　relieved；　it　was　like　an　eternity　before　he　heard　a　bustle　on　the　half…deck　outside　and　someone　knocked　on　the　door。　Hornblower　settled　himself　in　an　attitude　of　plete　relaxation　on　his　cot。
　〃e　in！〃　he　called；　and　he　blinked　and　peered　at　the　midshipman　as　if　he　had　just　awakened　from　a　sound　sleep。
　〃Boat　heading　towards　us；　sir；〃　said　the　midshipman。
　〃I'll　e　up；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃Pass　the　word　for　my　cox'n。〃
　Brown　helped　him　into　his　dress…coat；　and　he　reached　the　deck　while　the　boat　was　still　some　distance　off。
　〃The　same　pinnace　that　we　saw　before；　sir；〃　mented　Hurst。
　The　pinnace　came　into　the　wind；　and　took　in　her　mainsail　while　the　bowman　hailed　the　ship　in　Russian。
　〃Where's　Mr　Braun？〃　said　Hornblower。
　The　hail　was　repeated；　and　Braun　translated。
　〃He　is　asking　permission　to　hook　on　to　us；　sir。　And　he　says　he　has　a　message　for　you。〃
　〃Tell　him　to　e　alongside；〃　said　Hornblower；　This　dependence　upon　an　interpreter　always　irritated　him。
　The　boat's　crew　was　smart；　dressed　in　something　like　a　uniform　with　blue　shirts　and　white　trousers；　and　in　the　stern…sheets；　ready　to　mount　the　side；　was　an　officer　in　military　uniform；　frogged　across　the　breast　in　Hussar　fashion。　The　Hussar　came　clumsily　up　the　side；　and　glanced　round；　saluting　the　mass　of　gold　lace　which　awaited　him。　Then　he　produced　a　letter；　which　he　offered　with　a　further　explanation　in　Russian。
　〃From　His　Imperial　Majesty　the　Tsar；〃　translated　Braun　with　a　catch　in　his　voice。
　Hornblower　took　the　letter；　it　was　addressed　in　French　…　
　
　M。　LE　CHEF　D'ESCADRE　LE　CAPITAINE　SIR　HORNBLOWER；
　VAISSEAU　BRITANNIQUE　NOONSUCH。
　
　Apparently　the　Tsar's　secretary；　however　petent　he　might　be　in　other　ways；　was　shaky　regarding　both　British　titles　and　spelling。　The　letter　within　was　written　in　French　as　well　…　it　was　pleasant　to　be　able　to　translate　without　Braun's　assistance。
　
　The　Imperial　Palace　of　Peterhof
　Grand　Marshalate　of　the　Imperial　Court
　May　30；　1812
　SIR；
　I　am　manded　by　His　Imperial　Majesty　the　Emperor　of　All　the　Russias　to　express　to　you　His　Imperial　Majesty's　pleasure　at　hearing　of　your　arrival　in　His　Imperial　Majesty's　waters。　His　Imperial　Majesty　and　His　Royal　Highness　the　Prince　of　Sweden　further　mand　you　to　dinner　at　this　palace　to…day　at　four　o'clock　acpanied　by　your　staff。　His　Excellency　the　Minister　of　Marine　has　put　at　your　disposal　a　boat　which　will　convey　you　and　your　party　direct　to　the　quay；　and　the　officer　who　conveys　this　letter　to　you　will　serve　as　your　guide。
　Accept；　sir；　the　assurances　of　my　highest　consideration；
　KOTCHUBEY；　Grand　Marshal　of　the　Court
　
　〃I　am　invited　to　dinner　with　the　Tsar　and　Bernadotte；〃　said　Hornblower　to　Bush；　he　handed　over　the　letter；　and　Bush　looked　at　it　wisely　with　his　head　on　one　side　as　if　he　could　read　French。
　〃You're　going；　I　suppose；　sir？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　It　would　hardly　be　tactful　to　begin　his　first　encounter　with　the　Russian　and　Swedish　authorities　by　refusing　an　Imperial　and　a　royal　mand。
　Hornblower　suddenly　glanced　round　to　find　half　the　officers　of　the　ship　hanging　on　his　words。　This　public　discussion　of　his　affairs　was　not　in　the　least　dignified；　and　detracted　vastly　from　the　pomp　and　mystery　which　should　surround　a　modore。　He　had　fallen　sadly　away　from　his　old　standards。
　〃Have　none　of　you　anything　better　to　do　than　stand　about　and　gape？〃　he　bellowed；　rounding　on　the　herd。　〃I　can　find　mastheads　even　for　senior　officers　if　necessary。〃
　They　began　to　slink　away　in　gratifying　fright；　each　one　doing　his　best　to　avoid　catching　his　eye　as　he　glowered　round　him。　That　was　a　very　desirable　result。　Then　he　became　aware　that　the　Hussar　had　yet　another　letter　in　his　hand。　He　took　it　from　him　and　glanced　at　the　superscription。
　〃Here；　Colonel；　this　is　for　you；〃　he　said；　handing　it　to　Wychwood　before　turning　back　to　Bush。　〃The　Tsar　and　Bernadotte　are　at　Peterhof　…　the　place　is　marked　on　the　chart；　on　the　Oranienbaum　shore　over　there。　You　will　be　in　mand　in　my　absence；　of　course。〃
　Bush's　face　reflected　a　plexity　of　emotions；　Hornblower　knew　that　he　was　remembering　other　occasions　when　Hornblower　had　left　him　in　mand；　to　go　on　shore　to　beard　a　mad　tyrant　on　the　coast　of　Central　America；　or　to　undertake　some　harebrained　adventure　on　the　coast　of　France。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir；〃　said　Bush。
　〃I　have　to　take　my　staff；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃Who　do　you　think　would　care　to　dine　with　the　Tsar？〃
　He　could　afford　to　be　jocose　with　Bush；　who　held　the　same　substantive　rank　as　himself　…　especially　after　his　recent　assertion　of　his　dignity。
　〃You'll　need　Braun；　I　suppose；　sir？〃
　〃I　suppose　so。〃
　Dinner　with　the　Tsar　would　be　a　notable　experience　for　any　young　officer；　something　he　would　be　able　to　yarn　about　for　the　rest　of　his　life。　Good　service　could　be　rewarded　by　an　invitation；　and　at　the　same　time　some　future　Admiral　might　gain　invaluable　experience。
　〃I'll　take　Hurst；〃　decided　Hornblower；　there　were　not　the　makings　of　an　Admiral　in　the　first　lieutenant；　but　discipline　demanded　that　he　be　included　in　the　party。　〃And　young　Mound；　if　you'll　signal　for　him。　And　a　midshipman。　Who　do　you　suggest？〃
　〃Somers　is　the　brightest；　sir。〃
　〃The　fat　one？　Very　good；　I'll　take　him。　Have　you　been　invited；　too；　Colonel？〃
　〃I　have；　sir；〃　answered　Wychwood。
　〃We　must　be　there　at　four。　How　long　will　it　take　to　arrive？〃
　He　looked　at　the　Hussar；　who　did　not　understand　him；　and　then　looked　round　for　Braun；　who　had　left　the　deck；　which　was　perfectly　infuriating。　When　Hornblower　had　turned　on　the　idling　crowd　he　had　not　meant　Braun　to　go；　of　course。　It　was　just　like　Braun　with　his　mock　humble　pose　to　take　his　chief　literally。　Hornblower　angrily　ordered　the　word　to　be　passed　for　him；　and　fumed　until　he　came　up　again；　yet　when　he　came　there　was　small　satisfaction　to　be　derived　from　his　services；　for　when　Hornblower's　question　was　translated　to　the　Hussar　the　latter　merely　raised　his　eyes　to　the　sky　and　shrugged　his　shoulders　before　offering　the　information　…　translated　by　Braun　…　that　it　might　be　two　hours　and　it　might　be　four。　As　a　soldier　the　Hussar　would　make　no　estimate　of　the　time　necessary　for　a　journey　by　boat。
　〃We　mustn't　be　late　for　a　royal　mand；　damn　it；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃We'll　leave　in　half　an　hour。〃
　Hornblower　came　punctually　to　the　ship's　side　to　find　the　others　awaiting　him；　young　Somers'　plump　cheeks　empurpled　with　the　constriction　of　his　stock；　Hurst　and　Mound　unfortable　in　their　full　dress；　Braun　stiffly　uniformed。
　〃Carry　on；〃　said　Hornblower。
　Young　Somers　went　first　in　accordance　with　the　age…old　rule　of　the　junior　g