csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第46节

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　'Fog's　thinning；　sir；'　said　Winyatt。
　'Quick！'　said　the　duchess。
　There　was　no　time　for　further　debate。　Hornblower　slipped　the　envelopes　from　their　binding　of　rope　and　handed　them　over　to　her；　and　replaced　the　belaying　pin　in　the　rail。
　'These　damned　French　fashions；'　said　the　duchess。　'I　was　right　when　I　said　I'd　put　these　letters　up　my　petticoats。　There's　no　room　in　my　bosom。'
　Certainly　the　upper　part　of　her　gown　was　not　at　all　capacious；　the　waist　was　close　up　under　the　armpits　and　the　rest　of　the　dress　hung　down　from　there　quite　straight　in　utter　defiance　of　anatomy。
　'Give　me　a　yard　of　that　rope；　quick！'　said　the　duchess。
　Winyatt　cut　her　a　length　of　the　line　with　his　knife　and　handed　it　to　her。　Already　she　was　hauling　at　her　petticoats；　the　appalled　Hornblower　saw　a　gleam　of　white　thigh　above　her　stocking　tops　before　he　tore　his　glance　away。　The　fog　was　certainly　thinning。
　'You　can　look　at　me　now；'　said　the　duchess；　but　her　petticoats　only　just　fell　in　time　as　Hornblower　looked　round　again。　'They're　inside　my　shift；　next　my　skin　as　I　promised。　With　these　Directory　fashions　no　one　wears　stays　any　more。　So　I　tied　the　rope　round　my　waist　outside　my　shift。　One　envelope　is　flat　against　my　chest　and　the　other　against　my　back。　Would　you　suspect　anything？'
　She　turned　round　for　Hornblower's　inspection。
　'No；　nothing　shows；'　he　said。　'I　must　thank　Your　Grace。'
　'There　is　a　certain　thickening；'　said　the　duchess；　'but　it　does　not　matter　what　the　Spaniards　suspect　as　long　as　they　do　not　suspect　the　truth。'
　Momentary　cessation　of　the　need　for　action　brought　some　embarrassment　to　Hornblower。　To　discuss　with　a　woman　her　shift　and　stays…or　the　absence　of　them…was　a　strange　thing　to　do。
　A　watery　sun；　still　nearly　level；　was　breaking　through　the　mist　and　shining　in　his　eyes。　The　mainsail　cast　a　watery　shadow　on　the　deck。　With　every　second　the　sun　was　growing　brighter。
　'Here　it　es；'　said　Hunter。
　The　horizon　ahead　expanded　rapidly；　from　a　few　yards　to　a　hundred；　from　a　hundred　yards　to　half　a　mile。　The　sea　was　covered　with　ships。　No　less　than　six　were　in　plain　sight；　four　ships　of　the　line　and　two　big　frigates；　with　the　red…and…gold　of　Spain　at　their　mastheads；　and；　what　marked　them　even　more　obviously　as　Spaniards；　huge　wooden　crosses　hanging　at　their　peaks。
　'Wear　ship　again；　Mr　Hunter；'　said　Hornblower。　'Back　into　the　fog。'
　That　was　the　one　chance　of　safety。　Those　ships　running　down　towards　them　were　bound　to　ask　questions；　and　they　could　not　hope　to　avoid　them　all。　Le　Rêve　spun　around　on　her　heel；　but　the　fog…bank　from　which　she　had　emerged　was　already　attenuated；　sucked　up　by　the　thirsty　sun。　They　could　see　a　drifting　stretch　of　it　ahead；　but　it　was　lazily　rolling　away　from　them　at　the　same　time　as　it　was　dwindling。　The　heavy　sound　of　a　cannon　shot　reached　their　ears；　and　close　on　their　starboard　quarter　a　ball　threw　up　a　fountain　of　water　before　plunging　into　the　side　of　a　wave　just　ahead。　Hornblower　looked　round　just　in　time　to　see　the　last　of　the　puff　of　smoke　from　the　bows　of　the　frigate　astern　pursuing　them。
　'Starboard　two　points；'　he　said　to　the　helmsman；　trying　to　gauge　at　one　and　the　same　moment　the　frigate's　course；　the　direction　of　the　wind；　the　bearing　of　the　other　ships；　and　that　of　the　thin　last　nucleus　of　that　wisp　of　fog。
　'Starboard　two　points；'　said　the　helmsman。
　'Fore　and　main　sheets！'　said　Hunter。
　Another　shot；　far　astern　this　time　but　laid　true　for　line；　Hornblower　suddenly　remembered　the　duchess。
　'You　must　go　below；　Your　Grace；'　he　said　curtly。
　'Oh；　no；　no；　no！'　burst　out　the　duchess　with　angry　vehemence。　'Please　let　me　stay　here。　I　can't　go　below　to　where　that　seasick　maid　of　mine　lies　hoping　to　die。　Not　in　that　stinking　box　of　a　cabin。'
　There　would　be　no　safety　in　that　cabin；　Hornblower　reflected…Le　Rêve's　scantlings　were　too　fragile　to　keep　out　any　shot　at　all。　Down　below　the　water　line　in　the　hold　the　women　might　be　safe；　but　they　would　have　to　lie　flat　on　top　of　beef　barrels。
　'Sail　ahead！'　screamed　the　lookout。
　The　mist　there　was　parting　and　the　outline　of　a　ship　of　the　line　was　emerging　from　it；　less　than　a　mile　away　and　on　almost　the　same　course　as　Le　Rêve's。　Thud…thud　from　the　frigate　astern。　Those　gunshots　by　now　would　have　warned　the　whole　Spanish　fleet　that　something　unusual　was　happening。　The　battleship　ahead　would　know　that　the　little　sloop　was　being　pursued。　A　ball　tore　through　the　air　close　by；　with　its　usual　terrifying　noise。　The　ship　ahead　was　awaiting　their　ing；　Hornblower　saw　her　topsails　slowly　turning。
　'Hands　to　the　sheets！'　said　Hornblower。　'Mr　Hunter；　jibe　her　over。'
　Le　Rêve　came　round　again；　heading　for　the　lessening　gap　on　the　port　side。　The　frigate　astern　turned　to　intercept。　More　jets　of　smoke　from　her　bows。　With　an　appalling　noise　a　shot　passed　within　a　few　feet　of　Hornblower；　so　that　the　wind　of　it　made　him　stagger。　There　was　a　hole　in　the　mainsail。
　'Your　Grace；'　said　Hornblower；　'those　aren't　warning　shots…'
　It　was　the　ship　of　the　line　which　fired　them；　having　succeeded　in　clearing　away　and　manning　some　of　her　upper…deck　guns。　It　was　as　if　the　end　of　the　world　had　e。　One　shot　hit　Le　Rêve's　hull；　and　they　felt　the　deck　heave　under　their　feet　as　a　result　as　if　the　little　ship　were　disintegrating。　But　the　mast　was　hit　at　the　same　moment；　stays　and　shrouds　parting；　splinters　raining　all　round。　Mast；　sails；　boom；　gaff　and　all　went　from　above　them　over　the　side　to　windward。　The　wreckage　dragged　in　the　sea　and　turned　the　helpless　wreck　round　with　the　last　of　her　way。　The　little　group　aft　stood　momentarily　dazed。
　'Anybody　hurt？'　asked　Hornblower；　recovering　himself。
　'On'y　a　scratch；　sir；'　said　one　voice。
　It　seemed　a　miracle　that　no　one　was　killed。
　'Carpenter's　mate；　sound　the　well；'　said　Hornblower　and　then；　recollecting　himself；　'No；　damn　it。　Belay　that　order。　If　the　Dons　can　save　the　ship；　let　'em　try。'
　Already　the　ship　of　the　line　whose　salvo　had　done　the　damage　was　filling　her　topsails　again　and　bearing　away　from　them；　while　the　frigate　which　had　pursued　them　was　running　down　on　them　fast。　A　wailing　figure　came　scrambling　out　of　the　afterhatch　way。　It　was　the　duchess's　maid；　so　mad　with　terror　that　her　seasickness　was　forgotten。　The　duchess　put　a　protective　arm　round　her　and　tried　to　fort　her。
　'Your　Grace　had　better　look　to　your　baggage；'　said　Hornblower。　'No　doubt　you'll　be　leaving　us　shortly　for　other　quarters　with　the　Dons。　I　hope　you　will　be　more　fortable。'
　He　was　trying　desperately　hard　to　speak　in　a　matter…of…fact　way；　as　if　nothing　out　of　the　ordinary　were　happening；　as　if　he　were　not　soon　to　be　a　prisoner　of　the　Spaniards；　but　the　duchess　saw　the　working　of　the　usually　firm　mouth；　and　marked　how　the　hands　were　tight　clenched。
　'How　can　I　tell　you　how　sorry　I　am　about　this？'　asked　the　duchess；　her　voice　soft　with　pity。
　'That　makes　it　the　harder　for　me　to　bear；'　said　Hornblower；　and　he　even　forced　a　smile。
　The　Spanish　frigate　was　just　rounding…to；　a　cable's　length　to　windward。
　'Please；　sir；'　said　Hunter。
　'Well？'
　'We　can　fight；　sir。　You　give　the　word。　Cold　shot　to　drop　in　the　boats　when　they　try　to　board。　We　could　beat　'em　off　once；　perhaps。'
　Hornblower's　tortured　misery　nearly　made　him　snap　out　'Don't　be　a　fool'；　but　he　checked　himself。　He　contented　himself　with　pointing　to　the　frigate。　Twenty　guns　were　glaring　at　them　at　far　less　than　point…blank　range。　The　very　boat　the　frigate　was　hoisting　out　would　be　manned　by　at　least　twice　as　many　men　as　Le　Rêve　carried…she　was　no　bigger　than　many　a　pleasure　yacht。　It　was　not　odds　of　ten　to　one；　or　a　hundred　to　one；　but　odds　of　ten　thousand　to　one。
　'I　understand；　sir；'　said　Hunter。
　Now　the　Spanish　frigate's　boat　was　in　the　water；　about　to　shove　off。
　'A　private　word　with　you；　please；　Mr　Hornblower；'　said　the　duchess　suddenly。
　Hunter　and　Winyatt　heard　what　she　said；　and　withdrew　out　of　earshot。
　'Yes；　Your　Grace？'　said　Hornblower。
　The　duchess　stood　there；　still　with　her　arm　round　her　weeping　maid；　looking　straight　at　him。
　'I'm　no　more　of　a　duchess　than　you　are；'　she　said。
　'Good　God！'　said　Hornblower。　'Who…who　are　you；　then？'
　'Kitty　Cobham。'
　The　name　meant　a　little　to　Hornblower；　but　only　a　little。
　'You're　too　young　for　that　name　to　have　any　memories　for　you；　Mr　Hornblower；　I　see。　It's　five　years　since　last　I　trod　the　boards。'
　That　was　it。　Kitty　Cobham　the　actress。
　'I　can't　tell　it　all　now；'　said　the　duchess…the　Spanish　boat　was　dancing　over　the　waves　towards　them。　'But　when　the　French　marched　into　Florence　that　was　only　the　last　of　my　misfortunes。　I　was　penniless　when　I　escaped　from　them。　Who　would　lift　a　finger　for　a　onetime　actress…one　who　had　been　betrayed　and　deserted？　What　was　I　to　do？　But　a　duchess…that　was　another　story。　Old　Dalrymple　at　Gibraltar　could　not　do　enough　for　the　Duchess　of　Wharfedale。'
　'Why　did　you　choose　that　title？'　asked　Hornblower　in　spite　of　himself。
　'I　knew　of　her；'　said　the　duchess　with　a　shrug　of　the　shoulders。　'I　knew　her　to　be　what　I　played　her　as。　That　was　why　I　chose　her…I　always　played　character　parts　better　than　straight　edy。　And　not　nearly　so　tedious　in　a　long　role。'
　'But　my　despatches！'　said　Hornblower　in　a　sudden　panic　of　realization。　'Give　them　back；