csf.thecommodore-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


lours　under　a　flag　of　truce。〃
　Hornblower　turned　his　glass　on　the　leader　and　confirmed　Bush's　decision。
　〃The　next　one；　sir　…〃　Bush　laughed　apologetically　at　his　own　innocence；　〃I　know　it's　strange；　sir；　but　it　looks　just　like　the　British　ens'n　under　a　flag　of　truce。〃
　It　was　hard　to　believe；　and　it　was　easy　to　make　a　mistake　in　identifying　a　small　boat's　flag　at　that　distance。　But　Hornblower's　glass　seemed　to　show　the　same　thing。
　〃What　do　you　make　of　that　second　boat；　Mr　Hurst？〃
　〃British　colours　under　white；　sir；〃　said　Hurst　without　hesitation。
　The　third　boat　was　some　long　way　astern；　and　her　colours　were　not　so　easy　to　make　out。
　〃French；　I　think；　sir；〃　said　Hurst；　but　the　leading　boat　was　approaching　fast　now。
　It　was　a　tall　portly　gentleman　who　was　swung　up　on　to　the　deck　in　the　bos'un's　chair；　clinging　to　his　cocked　hat。　He　wore　a　blue　coat　with　gold　buttons　and　epaulettes；　and　he　hitched　his　sword　and　his　stock　into　position　before　laying　the　hat　…　a　fore…and…aft　one　with　a　white　plume　and　a　Swedish　cockade　…　across　his　chest　in　a　sweeping　bow。

　〃Baron　Basse；〃　he　said。
　Hornblower　bowed。
　〃Captain　Sir　Horatio　Hornblower；　modore　manding　this　squadron。〃
　Basse　was　a　heavily　jowled　man　with　a　big　hook…nose　and　a　cold　grey　eye；　and　it　was　obvious　that　he　could　only　guess　faintly　at　what　Hornblower　said。
　〃You　fight？〃　he　asked；　with　an　effort。
　〃I　am　in　pursuit　of　a　privateer　under　French　colours；〃　said　Hornblower；　and　then；　realizing　the　difficulty　of　making　himself　understood　when　he　had　to　pick　his　words　with　diplomatic　care：　〃Here；　where's　Mr　Braun？〃
　The　interpreter　came　forward　with　a　brief　explanation　of　himself　in　Swedish；　and　Hornblower　watched　the　interplay　of　glances　between　the　two。　They　were　clearly　the　deadliest　political　enemies；　meeting　here　on　the　paratively　neutral　ground　of　a　British　man…o'…war。　Basse　brought　out　a　letter　from　his　breast　pocket　and　passed　it　to　Braun；　who　glanced　at　it　and　handed　it　to　Hornblower。
　〃That　is　a　letter　from　the　Governor…General　of　Swedish　Pomerania；〃　he　explained；　〃saying　that　this　gentleman；　the　Baron　Basse；　has　his　full　confidence。〃
　〃I　understand；〃　said　Hornblower。
　Basse　was　already　talking　rapidly　to　Braun。
　〃He　says；〃　explained　Braun；　〃that　he　wants　to　know　what　you　will　do。〃
　〃Tell　him；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃that　that　depends　on　what　the　Swedes　do。　Ask　him　if　Sweden　is　neutral。〃
　Obviously　the　reply　was　not　a　simple　'yes'　or　'no'。　Basse　offered　a　lengthy　explanation。
　〃He　says　that　Sweden　only　wants　to　be　at　peace　with　all　the　world；〃　said　Braun。
　〃Tell　him　that　that　means　neutrality；　then；　and　neutrality　has　obligations　as　well　as　privileges。　There　is　a　ship…of…war　under　French　colours　there。　She　must　be　warned　that　her　presence　in　Swedish　waters　can　only　be　tolerated　for　a　limited　time；　and　I　must　be　informed　of　what　the　time…limit　is。〃
　Basse's　heavy　face　showed　considerable　embarrassment　at　Braun's　translation　of　Hornblower's　demand。　He　worked　his　hands　violently　as　he　made　his　reply。
　〃He　says　he　cannot　violate　the　laws　of　international　amity；〃　said　Braun。
　〃Say　that　that　is　exactly　what　he　is　doing。　That　ship　cannot　be　allowed　to　use　a　Swedish　port　as　a　base　of　operations。　She　must　be　warned　to　leave；　and　if　she　will　not；　then　she　must　be　taken　over　and　a　guard　put　in　her　to　make　sure　she　does　not　slip　away。〃
　Basse　positively　wrung　his　hands　as　Braun　spoke　to　him；　but　any　reply　he　was　going　to　make　was　cut　short　by　Bush's　salute　to　Hornblower。
　〃The　French　flag　of　truce　is　alongside；　sir。　Shall　I　allow　them　to　send　someone　on　board？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Hornblower　testily。
　The　new　figure　that　came　in　through　the　entry…port　was　even　more　decorative　than　Basse；　although　a　much　smaller　man。
　Across　his　blue　coat　lay　the　watered　red　silk　ribbon　of　the　Legion　of　Honour；　and　its　star　glittered　on　his　breast。　He；　too；　swept　off　his　hat　in　an　elaborate　bow。
　〃The　Count　Joseph　Dumoulin；〃　he　said；　speaking　French；　〃Consul…General　in　Swedish　Pomerania　of　His　Imperial　and　Royal　Majesty　Napoleon；　Emperor　of　the　French；　King　of　Italy；　Protector　of　the　Confederation　of　the　Rhine；　Mediator　of　the　Swiss　Republic。〃
　〃Captain　Hornblower；〃　said　Hornblower。　He　was　suddenly　excessively　cautious；　because　his　government　had　never　recognized　those　resounding　titles　which　Dumoulin　had　just　reeled　off。　In　the　eyes　of　King　George　and　his　ministers；　Napoleon；　Emperor　of　the　French；　was　merely　General　Bonaparte　in　his　personal　capacity；　and　Chief　of　the　French　Government　in　his　official　one。　More　than　once　British　officers　had　found　themselves　in　serious　trouble　for　putting　their　names　to　documents　…　cartels　and　the　like　…　which　bore　even　incidental　references　to　the　Empire。
　〃Is　there　anyone　who　can　speak　French？〃　asked　Dumoulin　politely；　〃I　regret　bitterly　my　plete　inability　to　speak　English。〃
　〃You　can　address　yourself　to　me；　sir；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃and　I　should　be　glad　of　an　explanation　of　your　presence　in　this　ship。〃
　〃You　speak　admirable　French；　sir；〃　said　Dumoulin。　〃Ah；　of　course；　I　remember。　You　are　the　Captain　Hornblower　who　made　the　sensational　escape　from　France　a　year　ago。　It　is　a　great　pleasure　to　meet　a　gentleman　of　such　renown。〃
　He　bowed　again。　It　gave　Hornblower　a　queer　self…conscious　pleasure　to　find　that　his　reputation　had　preceded　him　even　into　this　obscure　corner　of　the　Baltic；　but　it　irritated　him　at　the　same　time；　as　having　nothing　to　do　with　the　urgent　matter　in　hand。
　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　am　still　waiting　for　an　explanation　of　why　I　have　the　honour　of　this　visit。〃
　〃I　am　here　to　support　M。　le　Baron　in　his　statement　of　the　belligerent　position　of　Swedish　Pomerania。〃
　Braun　interpreted；　and　Basse's　embarrassment　perceptibly　increased。
　〃Boat　with　English　colours　alongside；　sir；〃　interrupted　Bush。
　The　man　who　came　on　board　was　immensely　fat；　and　dressed　in　a　sober　black　civilian　suit。
　〃Hauptmann；〃　he　said；　bending　himself　at　the　waist；　he　spoke　English　with　a　thick　German　accent。　〃His　Britannic　Majesty's　consular　agent　at　Stralsund。〃
　〃What　can　I　do　for　you；　Mr　Hauptmann？〃　asked　Hornblower；　trying　not　to　allow　himself　to　grow　bewildered。
　〃I　have　e；〃　said　Hauptmann　…　actually　what　he　said　was　〃I　haf　gome〃　…　〃to　help　explain　to　you　the　position　here　in　Swedish　Pomerania。〃
　〃I　see　no　need　for　explanation；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃If　Sweden　is　neutral；　then　that　privateer　must　be　either　forced　to　leave　or　taken　into　custody。　If　Sweden　is　a　belligerent；　then　my　hands　are　free　and　I　can　take　whatever　steps　I　think　proper。〃
　He　looked　round　at　his　audience。　Braun　began　to　translate　into　Swedish。
　〃What　was　it　you　said；　Captain？〃　asked　Dumoulin。
　Desperately　Hornblower　plunged　into　a　French　translation；　and　the　curse　of　Babel　descended　upon　the　Nonsuch。　Everyone　tried　to　speak　at　once；　translation　clashed　with　expostulation。　Clearly；　what　Basse　wanted　was　the　best　of　both　worlds；　to　make　both　France　and　England　believe　Sweden　was　friendly。　What　Dumoulin　wanted　was　to　make　sure　that　Blanchefleur　would　be　enabled　to　continue　her　depredations　among　British　shipping。　Hornblower　looked　at　Hauptmann。
　〃e　with　me　for　a　minute；　please；〃　said　Hauptmann。　He　put　his　fat　hand　on　Hornblower's　shrinking　arm　and　led　him　across　the　quarter…deck　out　of　earshot。
　〃You　are　a　young　man；〃　said　Hauptmann；　〃and　I　know　you　naval　officers。　You　are　all　headstrong。　You　must　be　guided　by　my　advice。　Do　nothing　in　a　hurry；　sir。　The　international　situation　here　is　tense；　very　tense　indeed。　A　false　move　may　mean　ruin。　An　insult　to　Sweden　might　mean　war；　actual　war　instead　of　pretending　war。　You　must　be　careful　what　you　do。〃
　〃I　am　always　careful；〃　snapped　Hornblower；　〃but　do　you　expect　me　to　allow　that　privateer　to　behave　as　if　this　were　Brest　or　Toulon？〃
　Braun　came　over　to　them。
　〃Baron　Basse　asks　me　to　say　to　you；　sir；　that　Bonaparte　has　200；000　men　on　the　borders　of　Pomerania。　He　wants　me　to　say　that　one　cannot　offend　the　master　of　an　army　that　size。〃
　〃That　bears　out　what　I　say；　Captain；〃　said　Hauptmann。
　Here　came　Dumoulin；　and　Basse　after　him　…　no　one　would　trust　any　one　of　his　colleagues　to　be　alone　with　the　British　captain　for　a　moment。　Hornblower's　tactical　instinct　came　to　his　rescue；　the　best　defensive　is　a　vigorous　local　offensive。　He　turned　on　Hauptmann。
　〃May　I　ask；　sir；　how　His　Majesty　maintains　a　consular　agent　in　a　port　whose　neutrality　is　in　doubt？〃
　〃It　is　necessary　because　of　the　need　for　licences　to　trade。〃
　〃Are　you　accredited　to　the　Swedish　Government　by　His　Majesty？〃
　〃No；　sir。　I　am　accredited　by　His　Bavarian　Majesty。〃
　〃His　Bavarian　Majesty？〃
　〃I　am　a　subject　of　His　Bavarian　Majesty。〃
　〃Who　happens　to　be　at　war　with　His　Britannic　Majesty；〃　said　Hornblower　dryly。　The　whole　tangle　of　Baltic　politics；　of　hole…and…corner　hostilities　and　neutralities；　was　utterly　beyond　unravelling。　Hornblower　listened　to　everyone's　pleas　and　expostulations　until　he　could　bear　it　no　longer；　his　impatience　grew　at　length　apparent　to　his　anxious　interviewers。
　〃I　can　form　no　conclusion　at　present；　gentlemen；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃I　must　have　time　to　think　over　the　information　you　have　given　me。　Baron　Basse；　as　representative　of　a　governor…general；　I　fancy　you　are　entitled　to　a　seventeen…gun　salute　on　leaving　this　ship？〃
　The　salutes　echoed　over　the　yellow…green　water　as　the　officials　went　over　the　side。　Seventeen　guns　for　Baron　Basse。　Eleven　for　Dumoulin；　the　Consul…General。　Hauptmann；　as　a　mere　consular　agent；　rated　only　five；　the　smallest　salute　noticed　in　naval　ceremonial。　Hornblower　stood　at　the　salute　as　Hauptmann　went　down　into　his　boat；　and　then　sprang　into　activity　again。
　〃Signal　for　the　captains　of　Moth；　Harvey；　and　Clam　to　e　on　board；〃　he　ordered；　abruptly。
　The　bomb…vessels　and　the　cutter　were　within　easy　signalling　distance　now；　there　were　three　hours　of　daylight　left；　and　over　there　the　spars　of　the　French　privateer　still　showed　over　the　sand…dunes　of　Hiddensoe　as　though　to　taunt　him。
　
　CHAPTER　NINE
　
　Hornblower　swung　himself　up　over　the　side　of　the　Harvey；　where　Lieutenant　Mound　stood　at　attention　to　wele　him　with　his　two　boatswain's　mates　twittering　their　pipes。　The　bang　of　a　gun；　ing　unexpectedly　and　not　a　yard　from　him；　made　him　jump。　As　the　modore　was　shifting　his　broad　pendant　from　one　ship　to　another　（there　it　was　breaking　out　at　the　lofty　mast…head　of　the　Harvey）　it　was　the　correct　moment　for　another　salute；　which　they　were　firing　off　with　one　of　the　four　six…pounders　which　Harvey　carried　aft。
　〃Belay　that　nonsense；〃　said　Hornblower。
　Then　he　felt　suddenly　guilty。　He　had　publicly　described　the　Navy's　beloved　ceremonial　as　nonsense　…　just　as　extraordinary　he　had　applied　the　term　to　a　pliment　which　ought　to　have　delighted　him　as　it　was　only　the　second　time　he　had　received　it。　But　discipline　had　not　apparently　suffered；　although　young　Mound　was　grinning　broadly　as　he　gave　the　order　to　cease　firing。
　〃Square　away　and　let's　get　going；　Mr　Mound；〃　said　Hornblower。
　As　the　Harvey　filled　her　sails　and　headed　diagonally　for　the　shore　with　Moth　close　astern；　Hornblower　looked　round　him。　This　was　a　new　experience　for　him；　in　twenty　years　of　service　he　had　never　seen　action　in　a　bomb…vessel。　Above　him　towered　the　enormous　mainmast　（they　had　made　a　good　job　of　replacin