csf.thecommodore-第23部分

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　〃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　getting　first　into　a　boat；　and　Braun　followed　him。　Braun's　lifted　arm；　as　he　went　over　the　side；　pulled　up　his　tight　coat　for　a　moment；　and　his　waistcoat　with　it。　Something　flashed　momentarily　into　view　at　his　waistband；　something　black　…　Hornblower's　eyes　were　resting　on　it　at　that　moment。　It　must　have　been　the　butt　of　a　pistol；　the　barrel　of　it　pushed　into　the　waistband　of　his　breeches；　round　by　his　hip　where　the　bulge　would　be　least　noticeable。　The　fellow　was　wearing　his　sword；　of　course。　Hornblower　began　to　wonder　why　he　should　take　a　pistol。　But　Mound　and　Hurst　had　followed　him　down　by　this　time；　and　Wychwood　was　heaving　himself　over；　in　his　scarlet　tunic　and　bearskin。　The　Hussar　should　go　next；　so　that　the　modore　should　descend　last；　but　he　was　hanging　back　with　misplaced　politeness；　bowing　and　making　way　for　the　modore。
　〃After　you；　sir；〃　said　Hornblower　to　his　deaf　ears。
　Hornblower　had　positively　to　stamp　his　foot　to　pel　the　ignorant　soldier　to　precede　him；　and　then　he　swung　himself　over　to　the　shrilling　of　the　pipes　of　the　boatswain's　mates　and　the　rigid　salutes　of　the　ship's　officers。　He　dropped　into　the　sternsheets；　encumbered　with　his　boat…cloak。　There　was　a　tiny　cabin　forward；　where　he　joined　Wychwood　and　Hurst。　Mound　and　the　warrant　officers　and　the　Hussar　kept　themselves　discreetly　in　the　stern。　The　coxswain　yelled　some　strange　order　and　the　boat　cast　off；　the　lugsail　was　hoisted　and　they　headed　over　to　the　Oranienbaum　shore。
　From　where　he　sat　Hornblower　could　see　Braun　sitting　stiffly　in　the　sternsheets。　That　business　of　the　pistol　was　rather　curious。　Presumably　he　had　fears　of　attack　or　arrest　on　shore　as　a　recent　rebel；　and　wished　to　have　the　means　to　defend　himself。　But　not　even　the　Russians　would　lay　hands　on　an　English　officer；　in　a　British　uniform。　That　was　a　big　pistol　butt；　a　black　one　too。　Hornblower　suddenly　moved　uneasily　on　his　locker；　uncrossed　his　knees　and　recrossed　them。　That　was　one　of　the　pistols　Barbara　had　given　him　the　butt　of　which　he　had　seen　in　Braun's　waistband。　He　remembered　the　shape　of　the　ebony　butt　too　well　to　be　mistaken　about　it。
　The　presence　of　a　thief　on　board　a　ship　was　always　upsetting　and　disturbing；　theft　was　so　easy　and　suspicion　could　be　spread　so　wide；　although　that　was　not　true　in　this　case。　It　would　still　be　a　nasty　business　accusing　Braun　of　the　crime　and　punishing　him　for　it。　An　English…made　rifled　pistol　with　percussion　caps　…　presumably　the　very　first　of　its　kind　to　reach　Russia　…　would　mand　a　fabulous　price　at　the　Russian　Court。　Braun　could　reasonably　expect　to　obtain　two　or　three　hundred　guineas　for　it。　And　yet　even　with　all　his　prejudice　against　him　he　could　not　believe　Braun　capable　of　petty　theft。
　The　coxswain　suddenly　shouted　a　new　order；　and　the　pinnace　came　about　on　the　other　tack；　the　dipping　lug　with　which　she　was　equipped　had　to　be　taken　in　and　reset　when　she　tacked；　and　Hornblower　watched　the　evolution　with　professional　interest。　The　Russian　sailors　were　smart　and　handy　enough；　but　that　was　to　be　expected　of　the　crew　of　the　pinnace　specially　attached　to　the　service　of　the　Russian　Admiralty。　The　Nonsuch　was　already　far　astern；　hull　down。　A　buoy　made　its　appearance　close　alongside；　and　passed　away　astern；　the　rapidity　of　its　passage　proof　of　the　speed　the　pinnace　was　making　through　the　water。
　〃We're　heading　sou'west　now；　sir；〃　mented　Hurst；　〃we're　out　of　the　fairway。〃
　He　climbed　up　out　of　the　little　cabin　and　peered　ahead。
　〃Land　right　ahead；　sir；〃　he　reported；　〃but　no　sign　of　any　palace。〃
　〃I　know　nothing　about　the　Peterhof；〃　remarked　Wychwood。　〃I　was　in　Tsarskoe　Selo　and　the　old　Winter　Palace　as　a　subaltern　on　Wilson's　staff　before　Tilsit。　The　Peterhof's　one　of　the　lesser　palaces；　I　expect　they　chose　it　for　this　meeting　so　that　Bernadotte　could　arrive　direct　by　sea。〃
　It　was　quite　futile　to　debate　what　would　be　the　result　of　this　evening's　meeting；　and　yet　the　temptation　was　overwhelming。　The　minutes　slipped　by　until　the　coxswain　shouted　a　new　order。　The　lugsail　came　down；　and　the　piles　of　a　jetty　came　into　sight　beside　the　pinnace　as　she　rounded…to。　Lines　were　thrown　out　and　the　pinnace　drew　in　beside　a　broad　panion　way　rundown　into　the　water　from　the　top　of　the　jetty。　This　time　the　Russian　officer's　politeness　was　not　misplaced。　First　out　of　a　boat　and　last　in；　in　order　of　seniority；　was　the　etiquette　of　the　Navy；　Hornblower　ducked　out　of　the　little　cabin；　stepped　on　to　the　panionway　and　began　to　walk　up；　hurriedly　making　sure　that　his　cocked　hat　was　on　straight　and　his　sword　properly　slung。　As　he　reached　the　top　someone　shouted　an　order；　there　was　a　guard　of　twenty　soldiers　drawn　up　there；　grenadiers　in　bearskins　and　blue　coats。　They　put　their　left　arms　across　their　breasts　as　they　presented　arms　in　a　fashion　that　appeared　backhanded　to　a　man　accustomed　to　receiving　salutes　from　the　Royal　Marines。　Yet　the　uniforms　and　the　pose　seemed　strangely　familiar；　Hornblower　realized　that　he　was　being　reminded　of　the　wooden　soldiers　that　young　Richard　had　been　playing　with　…　a　box　of　German　soldiers　smuggled　out　of　the　continental　blo