csf.thecommodore-第6部分

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thin　him。　The　touch　of　her　lips　won　him　over；　his　heart　came　out　to　her；　and　he　kissed　her　with　all　the　passion　of　his　love；　while　the　coach　lurched　unstably　over　the　cobbles。　Barbara's　monumental　hat　threatened　to　e　adrift；　she　had　to　withdraw　from　his　arms　to　set　it　straight　and　to　restore　herself　to　her　normal　dignity。　She　was　aware　of；　even　if　she　had　misinterpreted；　the　turmoil　in　Hornblower's　soul；　and　she　deliberately　began　a　new　line　of　conversation　which　would　help　them　both　to　recover　their　posure　ready　for　their　imminent　appearance　in　public　again。
　〃I　am　pleased；〃　she　said；　〃whenever　I　think　of　the　high　pliment　the　government　is　paying　you　in　giving　you　this　new　appointment。〃
　〃I　am　pleased　that　you　are　pleased；　dear；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Hardly　more　than　half…way　up　the　Captains'　list；　and　yet　they　are　giving　you　this　mand。　You　will　be　an　admiral　in　petto。〃
　She　could　have　said　nothing　that　could　calm　Hornblower　more　effectively。　He　grinned　to　himself　at　Barbara's　mistake。　She　was　trying　to　say　that　he　would　be　an　admiral　on　a　small　scale；　in　miniature；　en　petit　as　it　would　be　phrased　in　French。　But　en　petit　meant　nothing　like　in　petto；　all　the　same。　In　petto　was　Italian　for　'in　the　breast'；　when　the　Pope　appointed　a　cardinal　in　petto　it　meant　that　he　intended　to　keep　the　appointment　to　himself　for　a　time　without　making　it　public。　It　tickled　Hornblower　hugely　to　hear　Barbara　guilty　of　a　solecism　of　that　sort。　And　it　made　her　human　again　in　his　eyes；　of　the　same　clay　as　his　own。　He　warmed　to　her　afresh；　with　tenderness　and　affection　supplementing　passion　and　love。
　The　coach　came　to　a　stop　with　a　lurch　and　a　squeaking　of　brakes；　and　the　door　opened。　Hornblower　jumped　out　and　handed　Barbara　down　before　looking　round　him。　It　was　blowing　half　a　gale；　west…by…north；　undoubtedly。　This　morning　it　had　been　a　strong　breeze；　southwesterly；　so　that　it　was　both　veering　and　strengthening。　A　little　more　northing　in　the　wind　and　they　would　be　weather…bound　in　the　Downs　until　it　backed　again。　The　loss　of　an　hour　might　mean　the　loss　of　days。　Sky　and　sea　were　grey；　and　there　were　whitecaps　a…plenty。　The　East　India　convoy　was　visible　at　anchor　some　way　out　…　as　far　as　they　were　concerned　the　wind　had　only　to　veer　a　trifle　for　them　to　up…anchor　and　start　down…Channel。　There　was　other　shipping　to　the　northward；　and　presumably　the　Nonsuch　and　the　flotilla　were　there；　but　without　a　glass　it　was　too　far　to　tell　ship　from　ship。　The　wind　whipped　round　his　ears　and　forced　him　to　hold　his　hat　on　tightly。　Across　the　cobbled　street　was　the　jetty　with　a　dozen　Deal　luggers　riding　to　it。
　Brown　stood　waiting　for　orders　while　the　coachman　and　footman　were　hauling　the　baggage　out　of　the　boot。
　〃I'll　have　a　hoveller　take　me　out　to　the　ship；　Brown；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃Make　a　bargain　for　me。〃
　He　could　have　had　a　signal　sent　from　the　castle　to　the　Nonsuch　for　a　boat；　but　that　would　consume　precious　time。　Barbara　was　standing　beside　him；　holding　on　to　her　hat；　the　wind　flapped　her　skirt　round　her　like　a　flag。　Her　eyes　were　grey　this　morning　…　if　sea　and　sky　had　been　blue　her　eyes　would　have　been　blue　too。　And　she　was　making　herself　smile　at　him。
　〃If　you　are　going　out　to　the　ship　in　a　lugger；　dear；〃　she　said；　〃I　could　e　too。　The　lugger　could　bring　me　back。〃
　〃You　will　be　wet　and　cold；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃Close…hauled　and　with　this　wind　it　will　be　a　rough　passage。〃
　〃Do　you　think　I　mind？〃　said　Barbara；　and　the　thought　of　leaving　her　tore　at　his　heartstrings　again。
　Brown　was　back　again　already；　and　with　him　a　couple　of　Deal　boatmen；　handkerchiefs　bound　round　their　heads　and　ear…rings　in　their　ears；　their　faces；　burned　by　the　wind　and　pickled　by　the　salt；　a　solid　brown　like　wood。　They　laid　hold　of　Hornblower's　sea…chests　and　began　to　carry　them　as　if　they　were　feathers　towards　the　jetty；　in　nineteen　years　of　war　innumerable　officers　had　had　their　chests　carried　down　to　Deal　jetty。　Brown　followed　them；　and　Hornblower　and　Lady　Barbara　brought　up　the　rear；　Hornblower　clutching　tenaciously　the　leather　portfolio　containing　his　'most　secret'　orders。
　〃Morning；　Captain；〃　The　captain　of　the　lugger　knuckled　his　forehead　to　Hornblower。　〃Morning；　Your　Ladyship。　All　the　breeze　anyone　wants　to…day。　Still；　you'll　be　able　to　weather　the　Goodwins；　Captain；　even　with　those　unweatherly　bombs　of　yours。　Wind's　fair　for　the　Skaw　once　you're　dear　of　the　Downs。〃
　So　that　was　military　secrecy　in　this　England；　this　Deal　hoveller　knew　just　what　force　he　had　and　whither　he　was　bound　…　and　to…morrow；　as　likely　as　not；　he　would　have　a　rendezvous　in　mid…Channel　with　a　French　chasse…marée；　exchanging　tobacco　for　brandy　and　news　for　news。　In　three　days　Bonaparte　in　Paris　would　know　that　Hornblower　had　sailed　for　the　Baltic　with　a　ship　of　the　line　and　a　flotilla。
　〃Easy　with　them　cases！〃　roared　the　lugger　captain　suddenly。　〃Them　bottles　ain't　made　o'　iron！〃
　They　were　lowering　down　into　the　lugger　the　rest　of　his　baggage　from　the　jetty；　the　additional　cabin　stores　which　Barbara　had　ordered　for　him　and　whose　quality　she　had　checked　so　carefully；　a　case　of　wine；　a　case　of　provisions；　and　the　parcel　of　books　which　was　her　special　present　to　him。
　〃Won't　you　take　a　seat　in　the　cabin；　Your　Ladyship？〃　asked　the　lugger　captain　with　queer　untutored　politeness。　〃'Twill　be　a　wet　run　out　to　Nonsuch。〃
　Barbara　caught　Hornblower's　eye　and　refused　politely；　Hornblower　knew　those　stuffy；　smelly　cabins　of　old。
　〃A　tarpauling　for　Your　Ladyship；　then。〃
　The　tarpaulin　was　fastened　round　Barbara's　shoulders；　and　hung　round　her　to　the　deck　like　a　candle　extinguisher。　The　wind　was　still　pulling　at　her　hat；　and　she　put　up　her　hand　and　with　a　single　gesture　snatched　it　from　her　head　and　drew　it　inside　the　tarpaulin。　The　brisk　wind　blew　her　hair　instantly　into　streamers；　and　she　laughed；　and　with　a　shake　of　her　head　set　her　whole　mane　flying　in　the　wind。　Her　cheeks　flushed　and　her　eyes　sparkled；　just　as　Hornblower　could　remember　her　in　the　old　days　when　they　rounded　the　Horn　in　Lydia。　Hornblower　wanted　to　kiss　her。
　〃Cast　off；　there！　Hands　to　the　halliard！〃　roared　the　captain；　ing　aft　and　casually　holding　the　tiller　against　his　hip。　The　hands　strained　at　the　tackle；　and　the　mainsail　rose　foot　by　foot；　the　lugger　made　a　sternboard　away　from　the　jetty。
　〃Lively　with　that　sheet　now；　Ge…arge！〃
　The　captain　hauled　the　tiller　over；　and　the　lugger　checked　herself；　spun　on　her　keel；　and　dashed　forward；　as　handy　as　a　horse　in　the　hands　of　a　skilful　rider。　As　she　came　out　from　the　lee　of　the　jetty　the　wind　took　hold　of　her　and　laid　her　over；　but　the　captain　put　down　the　tiller　and　Ge…arge　hauled　aft　on　the　sheet　until　the　sail　was　like　a　board；　and　the　lugger；　close…hauled　…　dramatically　so　to　anyone　unfamiliar　with　her　type　…　plunged　forward　into　the　teeth　of　the　gale；　with　the　spray　flying　aft　from　her　port　bow　in　sheets。　Even　in　the　sheltered　Downs　there　was　enough　of　a　sea　running　to　make　the　lugger　lively　enough　as　she　met　it；　pitch　following　roll　as　each　wave　passed　under　her　from　port　bow　to　starboard　quarter。
　Hornblower　suddenly　realized　that　this　was　the　moment　when　he　should　be　seasick。　He　could　not　remember　the　start　of　any　previous　voyage　when　he　had　not　been　sick；　and　the　motion　of　this　lively　little　lugger　should　find　him　out　if　anything　would。　It　was　interesting　that　nothing　of　the　sort　was　happening；　Hornblower　noticed　with　deep　amazement　that　the　horizon　forward　showed　up　above　the　boat's　bow；　and　then　disappeared　as　the　lugger　stood　up　on　her　stern；　without　his　feeling　any　qualm　at　all。　It　was　not　so　surprising　that　he　had　retained　his　sea…legs；　after　twenty　years　at　sea　it　was　not　easy　to　lose　them；　and　he　stood　swaying　easily　with　the　boat's　quick　motion；　he　only　lost　his　sea…legs　when　he　was　really　dizzy　with　seasickness；　and　that　dread　plague　showed　no　sign　of　appearing。　At　the　start　of　previous　voyages　he　had　always　been　worn　out　with　the　fatigues　of　fitting　out　and　missioning；　of　course　short　of　sleep　and　worn　down　with　anxieties　and　worries　and　ready　to　be　sick　even　without　going　to　sea。　As　modore　he　had　had　none　of　these　worries；　the　Admiralty　and　the　Foreign　Office　and　the　Treasury　had　heaped　orders　and　advice　upon　him；　but　orders　and　responsibility　were　not　nearly　as　harassing　as　the　petty　worries　of　finding　a　crew　and　dealing　with　dockyard　authorities。　He　was　perfectly　at　ease。

　Barbara　was　having　to　hold　on　tightly；　and　now　that　she　looked　up　at　him　she　was　obviously　not　quite　as　fortable　inside　as　she　might　be；　she　was　filled　with　doubts　if　with　nothing　else。　Hornblower　felt　both　amusement　and　pride；　it　was　pleasant　to　be　newly　at　sea　and　yet　not　sick；　and　it　was　more　pleasant　still　to　be　doing　something　better　than　Barbara；　who　was　so　good　at　everything。　He　was　on　the　point　of　teasing　her；　of　vaunting　his　own　immunity；　when　mon　sense　and　his　tenderness　for　his　wife　saved　him　from　such　an　incredible　blunder。　She　would　hate　him　if　he　did　anything　of　the　sort　…　he　could　remember　with　enormous　clarity　how　much　he　hated　the　whole　world　when　he　was　being　seasick。　He　did　his　best　for　her。
　〃You're　fortunate　not　to　be　sick；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　〃This　motion　is　lively；　but　then　you　always　had　a　good　stomach。〃
　She　looked　at　him；　with　the　wind　whipping　her　tousled　hair；　she　looked　a　trifle　dubious；　but　Hornblower's　words　had　heartened　her。　He　made　a　very　considerable　sacrifice　for　her；　one　she　would　never　know　about。
　〃I　envy　you；　dear；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　feeling　the　gravest　doubts　about　myself；　as　I　always　do　at　the　beginning　of　a　voyage。　But　you　are　your　usual　happy　self。〃
　Surely　no　man　could　give　a　better　proof　of　his　love　for　his　wife　than　that　he　should　not　only　conceal　his　feeling　of　superiority；　but　that　he　should　even　for　her　sake　pretend　to　be　seasick　when　he　was　not。　Barbara　was　all　concern　at　once。
　〃I　am　sorry；　dearest；〃　she　said；　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃I　hope　so　much　you　do　not　have　to　give　way。　It　would　be　most　inconvenient　for　you　at　this　moment　of　taking　up　your　mand。〃
　The　stratagem　was　working；　with　something　important　to　think　about　other　than　the　condition　of　her　stomach　Barbara　was　forgetting　her　own　qualms。
　〃I　hope　I　shall　last　out；〃　said　Hornblower；　he　tried　to　grin　a　brave　reluctant　grin；　and　although　he　was　no　actor　Barbara's