csf.thecommodore-第18章

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　Chloe　is　my　o…o…o…only　love！
　
　Freeman　finished　his　song；　and　everyone　pounded　on　the　table　in　genuine　applause。
　〃A　very　good　song；　and　very　well　sung；〃　said　Hornblower。
　Montgomery　was　trying　to　catch　his　eye。
　〃Will　you　excuse　me；　sir？〃　he　said。　〃I　have　the　second　dogwatch。〃
　That　sufficed　to　break　up　the　party；　the　three　lieutenants　had　to　return　to　their　own　ships；　Bush　wanted　to　take　a　look　round　on　deck；　and　the　two　midshipmen；　with　a　proper　appreciation　of　the　insignificance　of　their　species；　hastened　to　offer　their　thanks　for　their　entertainment　and　take　their　departure。
　That　was　quite　the　right　sort　of　party；　thought　Hornblower；　watching　them　go　…　good　food；　lively　talk；　and　a　quick　ending。　He　stepped　out　into　the　stern　gallery；　stooping　carefully　to　avoid　the　low　cove　overhead。　At　six　o'clock　in　the　evening　it　was　still　broad　daylight；　the　sun　had　not　nearly　set；　but　was　shining　into　the　gallery　from　right　aft；　and　a　faint　streak　beneath　it　showed　where　Bornholm　lay　just　above　the　horizon。　The　cutter；　her　mainsail　pulled　aft　as　flat　as　a　board；　passed　close　beneath　him　as　she　turned　close…hauled　under　the　stern　with　the　three　lieutenants　in　the　sternsheets　going　back　to　their　ships　…　the　wind　was　northwesterly　again。　The　young　men　were　skylarking　together　until　one　of　them　caught　sight　of　the　modore　up　in　the　stern　gallery；　and　then　they　promptly　stiffened　into　correct　attitudes。　Hornblower　smiled　at　himself　for　having　grown　fond　of　those　boys；　and　he　turned　back　into　the　cabin　again　to　relieve　them　of　the　strain　of　being　under　his　eye。　Braun　was　waiting　for　him。
　〃I　have　read　through　the　newspapers；　sir；〃　he　said。　Lotus　had　intercepted　a　Prussian　fishing…boat　that　afternoon；　and　had　released　her　after　confiscating　her　catch　and　taking　these　newspapers　from　her。
　〃Well？〃
　〃This　one　is　the　K？nigsberger　Hartunsche　Zeitung；　sir；　published　under　French　censorship；　of　course。　This　front　page　is　taken　up　with　the　meeting　at　Dresden。　Bonaparte　is　there　with　seven　kings　and　twenty…one　sovereign　princes。〃
　〃Seven　kings？〃
　〃The　kings　of　Holland；　Naples；　Bavaria；　Württemberg；　Westphalia；　Saxony；　and　Prussia；　sir；〃　read　Braun。　〃The　Grand　Dukes　of　…〃
　〃No　need　for　the　rest　of　the　list；〃　said　Hornblower。　He　peered　at　the　ragged　sheets　and　found　himself；　as　usual；　thinking　what　a　barbaric　language　German　was。　Bonaparte　was　clearly　trying　to　frighten　someone　…　it　could　not　be　England　who　had　faced　Bonaparte's　wrath　without　flinching　for　a　dozen　years。　It　might　be　his　own　subjects；　all　the　vast　mass　of　western　Europe　which　he　had　conquered。　But　the　obvious　person　for　Bonaparte　to　try　to　cow　was　the　Tsar　of　Russia。　There　were　plenty　of　good　reasons　why　Russia　should　have　grown　restive　under　the　bullying　of　her　neighbour；　and　this　supreme　demonstration　of　Bonaparte's　power　was　probably　designed　to　frighten　her　into　submission。
　〃Is　there　anything　about　troop　movements？〃　asked　Hornblower。
　〃Yes；　sir。　I　was　surprised　at　the　freedom　with　which　they　were　mentioned。　The　Imperial　Guard　is　at　Dresden。　There's　the　First；　the　Second〃　…　Braun　turned　the　page　…　〃and　the　Ninth　Army　Corps　all　mentioned。　They　are　in　Prussia　…　headquarters　Danzig　…　and　Warsaw。〃
　〃Nine　army　corps；〃　reflected　Hornblower。　〃Three　hundred　thousand　men；　I　suppose。〃
　〃There's　a　paragraph　here　which　speaks　of　Murat's　reserve　cavalry。　It　says　'there　are　forty　thousand　men；　superbly　mounted　and　equipped'。　Bonaparte　reviewed　them。〃
　An　enormous　mass　of　men　was　obviously　accumulating　on　the　frontier　between　Bonaparte's　Empire　and　Russia。　Bonaparte　would　have　the　Prussian　and　Austrian　armies　under　his　orders　too。　Half　a　million　men　…　six　hundred　thousand　men　…　the　imagination　failed　to　grasp　the　figures。　A　vast　tide　of　humanity　was　piling　up　here　in　eastern　Europe。　If　Russia　failed　to　be　impressed　by　the　threat；　it　was　hard　to　believe　that　anything　could　survive　the　onrush　of　such　a　mass　of　men。　The　doom　of　Russia　appeared　to　be　sealed；　she　must　either　submit　or　be　destroyed。　No　continental　nation　yet　had　successfully　opposed　Bonaparte；　although　every　single　one　had　felt　the　violence　of　his　attack；　only　England　still　withstood　him；　and　Spain　still　fought　on　although　his　armies　had　ravaged　every　village　and　every　valley　in　the　unhappy　peninsula。
　Doubt　came　back　into　Hornblower's　mind。　He　could　not　see　that　Bonaparte　would　derive　any　benefit　from　the　conquest　of　Russia　proportionate　to　the　effort　needed；　or　even　proportionate　to　the　slight　risk　involved。　Bonaparte　ought　to　be　able　to　find　a　far　more　profitable　employment　for　the　men　and　the　money。　Probably　there　would　be　no　war。　Russia　would　submit；　and　England　would　face　a　Europe　every　square　mile　of　which　would　be　in　the　tyrant's　hands。　And　yet　…
　〃This　one　is　the　Warsaw　Gazette；　sir；〃　went　on　Braun。　〃A　little　more　official；　from　the　French　point　of　view；　even　than　the　other　one；　although　it's　in　the　Polish　language。　Here　is　a　long　article　about　Russia。　It　speaks　of　'the　Cossack　menace　to　Europe'。　It　calls　Alexander　'the　barbarian　ruler　of　a　barbarian　people'。　'The　successor　of　Genghis　Khan。'　It　says　that　'St　Petersburg　is　the　focus　of　all　the　potential　anarchy　of　Europe'　…　'a　menace　to　the　peace　of　the　world'　…　'deliberately　hostile　to　the　benefits　conferred　upon　the　world　by　the　French　people'。〃
　〃And　that　must　be　published　with　Bonaparte's　consent；〃　mented　Hornblower；　half　to　himself；　but　Braun　was　still　deep　in　the　article。
　〃'The　wanton　ravisher　of　Finland；'〃　read　Braun；　more　than　half　to　himself。　He　raised　his　green　eyes　from　the　sheet。　There　was　a　gleam　of　hatred　in　them　that　startled　Hornblower；　it　reminded　him　of　what　he　was　in　a　fair　way　to　forget；　that　Braun　was　a　penniless　exile　on　account　of　Russia's　attack　on　Finland。　Braun　had　taken　service　with　England；　but　that　was　at　a　time　when　Russia　was　at　least　England's　nominal　enemy。　Hornblower　made　a　mental　note　that　it　might　be　as　well　not　to　trust　Braun　with　any　confidential　business　regarding　Russia；　of　her　own　free　will　Russia　would　never　restore　Finnish　independence；　and　there　was　always　the　chance　that　Bonaparte　might　do　so　…　that　he　might　restore　what　Bonaparte　would　call　Finnish　independence；　for　what　that　was　worth。　There　were　still　people　who　might　be　deceived　by　Bonaparte's　professions；　despite　his　record　of　deceit　and　broken　faith；　of　cruelty　and　robbery。
　Braun　would　bear　watching；　thought　Hornblower　…　that　would　be　something　more　to　bear　in　mind；　as　if　he　did　not　have　enough　worries　or　carry　enough　responsibility　already。　He　could　joke　with　Bush　about　the　Swedes　and　the　Russians；　but　secretly　anxiety　was　gnawing　at　him。　The　Swedes　might　well　be　exasperated　by　the　destruction　of　the　Blanchefleur　in　Pomeranian　waters。　That　might　be　the　last　straw；　Bernadotte　might　at　this　very　moment　be　contemplating　wholehearted　alliance　with　Bonaparte　and　war　with　England。　The　prospect　of　the　enmity　of　Sweden　as　well　as　that　of　France　might　easily　break　down　Russia's　resolution。　England　might　find　herself　with　the　whole　world　in　arms　against　her　as　a　result　of　Hornblower's　action。　A　fine　climax　that　would　be　to　his　first　independent　mand。　Those　cursed　brothers　of　Barbara's　would　sneer　in　superior　fashion　at　his　failure。
　Hornblower　shook　himself　with　an　effort　out　of　this　nightmare；　to　find　that　Braun　was　obviously　still　in　his。　The　hatred　in　his　eyes；　the　intensity　of　his　expression　were　quite　startling。　And　then　someone　knocked　on　the　cabin　door　and　Braun　came　out　of　his　dream　and　slipped　instantly　into　his　old　attitude　of　attentive　deference。
　〃e　in；〃　shouted　Hornblower。
　It　was　one　of　the　midshipmen　of　the　watch。
　〃Mr　Montgomery　sent　me　with　this　signal　from　Raven；　sir。〃
　He　held　out　the　slate；　it　was　scrawled　with　the　words　written　on　it　by　the　signal　officer。
　
　Have　met　Swedish　vessel　desirous　of　speaking　with　modore。
　
　〃I'll　e　on　deck；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃Ask　the　captain　if　he'll　be　kind　enough　to　e　too。〃
　〃The　cap'n's　on　deck；　sir。〃
　〃Very　good。〃
　Bush　and　Montgomery　and　half　a　dozen　officers　had　their　glasses　trained　towards　the　topsails　of　the　Raven　at　her　station　far　out　on　the　port　beam　as　the　squadron　swept　up　the　Baltic。　There　was　still　an　hour　of　daylight　left。
　〃Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃I'd　be　obliged　if　you　would　have　the　helm　put　up　and　run　down　towards　her。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　〃And　signal　for　the　squadron　to　take　up　night　stations；　if　you　please。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Nonsuch　heaved　her　ponderous　self　about；　lying　over　as　she　took　the　wind　abeam　while　the　watch　hauled　aft　on　the　starboard　braces。
　〃There's　a　sail　just　astern　of　Raven；　sir；〃　said　Montgomery。　〃Looks　like　a　brig。　A　Swede　from　the　cut　of　her　tops'ls；　sir。　One　of　those　Baltic　traders　you　see　in　Leith　Roads。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Hornblower。
　It　would　not　be　long　before　he　heard　what　the　news　was。　It　might　well　be　…　it　probably　would　be　…　something　desperately　unpleasant。　Some　new　load　of　responsibility　for　his　shoulders；　for　certain；　even　if　it　told　of　no　actual　disaster。　He　found　himself　envying　Montgomery　his　simple　duties　of　officer　of　the　watch；　with　nothing　more　to　do　than　simply　obey　orders　and　keep　an　eye　on　the　weather；　with　the　blessed　obligation　of　having　to　refer　all　important　decisions　to　a　superior。　Hornblower　made　himself　stand　still　on　the　quarter…deck；　his　hands　clasped　behind　him；　as　Nonsuch　and　the　brig　approached　each　other；　as　first　the　brig's　courses　and　then　her　hull　came　up　over　the　horizon。　To　the　west　the　sky　was　a　flaming　crimson；　but　twilight　lingered　on　as　the　brig　came　up　into　the　wind。
　〃Captain　Bush；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃will　you　heave　to；　if　you　please？　They　are　putting　a　boat　overside。〃
　He　would　not　display　vulgar　curiosity　by　staring　at　the　boat　as　it　was　launched；　or　by　looking　down　into　it　as　it　came　alongside；　he　paced　peacefully　up　and　down　the　quarter…deck　in　the　lovely　evening；　looking　in　every　direction　save　towards　the　boat；　while　the　rest　of　the　officers　and　the　men　chattered　and　stared　and　speculated。　Yet　Hornblower；　for　all　his　air　of　sublime　indifference；　turned　to　face　the　entry…port　at　the　exact　moment　when　the　visitor　was　ing　in　over　the　side。　The　first　thing　Hornblower　saw　was　a　fore…and…aft　cocked　hat　with　a　white　plume　that　seemed　familiar；　and　then　under　the　hat　appeared　the　heavy　face　and　portly　form　of　Baron　Basse。　He　laid　the　hat　across　his　chest　to　make　his　bow　just　as　he　had　done　before。
　〃Your　servant；　sir；〃　said　Hornblower；　saluting　stiffly。　He　was　handicapped　by　the　fact　that　although　he　could　remember　Basse　very　well；　and　could　have　described　him　to　perfection；　he　did　not　remember　his　name。　He　turned　to　the　midshipman　of　the　watch。　〃Pass　the　word　for　Mr　Braun。〃
　The　Swedish　gentleman　was　saying　something；　but　what　it　was　Hornblower　could　not　imagine。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；〃　said　Hornblower；　and　Basse　repeated　what　he　said；　with　no　more　success　at　conveying　his　meaning。　He　began　once　more　laboriously；　but　cut　himself　short　when　he　saw　Hornblower　distractedly　looking　away　from　him　towards　the　entry…port。　Hornblower　was　doing　his　best　to　be　polite；　but　he　could　see　a　bearskin　headdress　ing　in　at　the　entry…port；　and　that　was　too　intriguing　a　sight　for　him　possibly　to　withstand　its　attraction。　A　big　bearskin　cap　with　a　red　plume；　a　bristling　red　mo