csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第4部分

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t　ordinary　finish　to　a　hand；　it　was　hard　for　him　to　realize　that　foggy…minded　players　like　Simpson　could　find　difficulty　in　keeping　tally　of　fifty…two　cards。　Simpson　flung　down　his　hand。
　'You　know　too　much　about　the　game；'　he　said。　'You　know　the　backs　of　the　cards　as　well　as　the　fronts。'
　Hornblower　gulped。　He　recognized　that　this　could　be　a　decisive　moment　if　he　chose。　A　second　before　he　had　merely　been　playing　cards；　and　enjoying　himself。　Now　he　was　faced　with　an　issue　of　life　or　death。　A　torrent　of　thought　streamed　through　his　mind。　Despite　the　fort　of　his　present　surroundings　he　remembered　acutely　the　hideous　misery　of　the　life　in　the　Justinian　to　which　he　must　return。　This　was　an　opportunity　to　end　that　misery　one　way　or　the　other。　He　remembered　how　he　had　contemplated　killing　himself；　and　into　the　back　of　hid　mind　stole　the　germ　of　the　plan　upon　which　he　was　going　to　act。　His　decision　crystallized。
　'That　is　an　insulting　remark；　Mr　Simpson；'　he　said。　He　looked　round　and　met　the　eyes　of　Chalk　and　Caldwell；　who　were　suddenly　grave；　Simpson　was　still　merely　stupid。　'For　that　I　shall　have　to　ask　satisfaction。'
　'Satisfaction？'　said　Chalk　hastily。　'e；　e。　Mr　Simpson　had　a　momentary　loss　of　temper。　I　am　sure　he　will　explain。'
　'I　have　been　accused　of　cheating　at　cards；'　said　Hornblower。　'That　is　a　hard　thing　to　explain　away。'
　He　was　trying　to　behave　like　a　grown　man；　more　than　that；　he　was　trying　to　act　like　a　man　consumed　with　indignation；　while　actually　there　was　no　indignation　within　him　over　the　point　in　dispute；　for　he　understood　too　well　the　muddled　state　of　mind　which　had　led　Simpson　to　say　what　he　did。　But　the　opportunity　had　presented　itself；　he　had　determined　to　avail　himself　of　it；　and　now　what　he　had　to　do　was　to　play　the　part　convincingly　of　the　man　who　has　received　a　mortal　insult。
　'The　wine　was　in　and　the　wit　was　out；'　said　Chalk；　still　determined　on　keeping　the　peace。　'Mr　Simpson　was　speaking　in　jest；　I　am　sure。　Let's　call　for　another　bottle　and　drink　it　in　friendship。'
　'With　pleasure；'　said　Hornblower；　fumbling　for　the　words　which　would　set　the　dispute　beyond　reconciliation。　'If　Mr　Simpson　will　beg　my　pardon　at　once　before　you　two　gentlemen；　and　admit　that　he　spoke　without　justification　and　in　a　manner　no　gentleman　would　employ。'
　He　turned　and　met　Simpson's　eye　with　defiance　as　he　spoke；　metaphorically　waving　a　red　rag　before　the　bull；　who　charged　with　gratifying　fury。
　'Apologize　to　you；　you　little　whippersnapper！'　exploded　Simpson；　alcohol　and　outraged　dignity　speaking　simultaneously。　'Never　this　side　of　Hell。'
　'You　hear　that；　gentlemen？'　said　Hornblower。　'I　have　been　insulted　and　Mr　Simpson　refuses　to　apologize　while　insulting　me　further。　There　is　only　one　way　now　in　which　satisfaction　can　be　given。'
　
　For　the　next　two　days；　until　the　West　India　convoy　came　in；　Hornblower　and　Simpson；　under　Chalk's　orders；　lived　the　curious　life　of　two　duellists　forced　into　each　other's　society　before　the　affair　of　honour。　Hornblower　was　careful…as　he　would　have　been　in　any　case…to　obey　every　order　given　him；　and　Simpson　gave　them　with　a　certain　amount　of　self…consciousness　and　awkwardness。　It　was　during　those　two　days　that　Hornblower　elaborated　on　his　original　idea。　Pacing　through　the　dockyards　with　his　patrol　of　seamen　at　his　heels　he　had　plenty　of　time　to　think　the　matter　over。　Viewed　coldly…and　a　boy　of　seventeen　in　a　mood　of　black　despair　can　be　objective　enough　on　occasions…it　was　as　simple　as　the　calculations　of　the　chances　in　a　problem　at　whist。　Nothing　could　be　worse　than　his　life　in　the　Justinian；　not　even　（as　he　had　thought　already）　death　itself。　Here　was　an　easy　death　open　to　him；　with　the　additional　attraction　that　there　was　a　chance　of　Simpson　dying　instead。　It　was　at　that　moment　that　Hornblower　advanced　his　idea　one　step　further…a　new　development；　startling　even　to　him；　bringing　him　to　a　halt　so　that　the　patrol　behind　him　bumped　into　him　before　they　could　stop。
　'Beg　your　pardon；　sir；'　said　the　petty　officer。
　'No　matter；'　said　Hornblower；　deep　in　his　thoughts。
　He　first　brought　forward　his　suggestion　in　conversation　with　Preston　and　Danvers；　the　two　master's　mates　whom　he　asked　to　be　his　seconds　as　soon　as　he　returned　to　the　Justinian。
　'We'll　act　for　you；　of　course；'　said　Preston；　looking　dubiously　at　the　weedy　youth　when　he　made　his　request。　'How　do　you　want　to　fight　him　？　As　the　aggrieved　party　you　have　the　choice　of　weapons。'
　'I've　been　thinking　about　it　ever　since　he　insulted　me；'　said　Hornblower　temporizing。　It　was　not　easy　to　e　out　with　his　idea　in　bald　words；　after　all。
　'Have　you　any　skill　with　the　small…sword？'　asked　Danvers。
　'No；'　said　Hornblower。　Truth　to　tell；　he　had　never　even　handled　one。
　'Then　it　had　better　be　pistols；'　said　Preston。
　'Simpson　is　probably　a　good　shot；'　said　Danvers。　'I　wouldn't　care　to　stand　up　before　him　myself。'
　'Easy　now；'　said　Preston　hastily。　'Don't　dishearten　the　man。
　'I'm　not　disheartened；'　said　Hornblower；　'I　was　thinking　the　same　thing　myself。'
　'You're　cool　enough　about　it；　then；'　marvelled　Danvers。
　Hornblower　shrugged。
　'Maybe　I　am。　I　hardly　care。　But　I've　thought　that　we　might　make　the　chances　more　even。'
　'How？'
　'We　could　make　them　exactly　even；'　said　Hornblower；　taking　the　plunge。　'Have　two　pistols；　one　loaded　and　the　other　empty。　Simpson　and　I　would　take　our　choice　without　knowing　which　was　which。　Then　we　stand　within　a　yard　of　each　other；　and　at　the　word　we　fire。'
　'My　God！'　said　Danvers。
　'I　don't　think　that　would　be　legal；'　said　Preston。　'It　would　mean　one　of　you　would　be　killed　for　certain。'
　'Killing　is　the　object　of　duelling；'　said　Hornblower。　'If　the　conditions　aren't　unfair　I　don't　think　any　objection　can　be　raised。'
　'But　would　you　carry　it　out　to　the　end？'　marvelled　Danvers。
　'Mr　Danvers…'　began　Hornblower；　but　Preston　interfered。
　'We　don't　want　another　duel　on　our　hands；'　he　said。　Danvers　only　meant　he　wouldn't　care　to　do　it　himself。　We'll　discuss　it　with　Cleveland　and　Hether；　and　see　what　they　say。'
　Within　an　hour　the　proposed　conditions　of　the　duel　were　known　to　everyone　in　the　ship。　Perhaps　it　was　to　Simpson's　disadvantage　that　he　had　no　real　friend　in　the　ship；　for　Cleveland　and　Hether；　his　seconds；　were　not　disposed　to　take　too　firm　a　stand　regarding　the　conditions　of　the　duel；　and　agreed　to　the　terms　with　only　a　show　of　reluctance。　The　tyrant　of　the　midshipmen's　berth　was　paying　the　penalty　for　his　tyranny。　There　was　some　cynical　amusement　shown　by　some　of　the　officers；　some　of　both　officers　and　men　eyed　Hornblower　and　Simpson　with　the　curiosity　that　the　prospect　of　death　excites　in　some　minds；　as　if　the　two　destined　opponents　were　men　condemned　to　the　gallows。　At　noon　Lieutenant　Masters　sent　for　Hornblower。
　'The　captain　has　ordered　me　to　make　inquiry　into　this　duel；　Mr　Hornblower；'　he　said。　'I　am　instructed　to　use　my　best　endeavours　to　pose　the　quarrel。'
　'Yes；　sir。'
　'Why　insist　on　this　satisfaction；　Mr　Hornblower　？　I　understand　there　were　a　few　hasty　words　over　wine　and　cards。'
　'Mr　Simpson　accused　me　of　cheating；　sir；　before　witnesses　who　were　not　officers　of　this　ship。'
　That　was　the　point。　The　witnesses　were　not　members　of　the　ship's　pany。　If　Hornblower　had　chosen　to　disregard　Simpson's　words　as　the　ramblings　of　a　drunken　ill…tempered　man；　they　might　have　passed　unnoticed。　But　as　he　had　taken　the　stand　he　did；　there　could　be　no　hushing　it　up　now；　and　Hornblower　knew　it。
　'Even　so；　there　can　be　satisfaction　without　a　duel；　Mr　Hornblower。'
　'If　Mr　Simpson　will　make　me　a　full　apology　before　the　same　gentlemen；　I　would　be　satisfied；　sir。'
　Simpson　was　no　coward。　He　would　die　rather　than　submit　to　such　a　formal　humiliation。
　'I　see。　Now　I　understand　you　are　insisting　on　rather　unusual　conditions　for　the　duel？'
　'There　are　precedents　for　it；　sir。　As　the　insulted　party　I　can　choose　any　conditions　which　are　not　unfair。'
　'You　sound　like　a　sea　lawyer　to　me；　Mr　Hornblower。'
　The　hint　was　sufficient　to　tell　Hornblower　that　he　had　verged　upon　being　too　glib；　and　he　resolved　in　future　to　bridle　his　tongue。　He　stood　silent　and　waited　for　Masters　to　resume　the　conversation。
　'You　are　determined；　then；　Mr　Hornblower；　to　continue　with　this　murderous　business？'
　'Yes；　sir。'
　'The　captain　has　given　me　further　orders　to　attend　the　duel　in　person；　because　of　the　strange　conditions　on　which　you　insist。　I　must　inform　you　that　I　shall　request　the　seconds　to　arrange　for　that。'
　'Yes；　sir。'
　'Very　good；　then；　Mr　Homblower。'
　Masters　looked　at　Hornblower　as　he　dismissed　him　even　more　keenly　than　he　had　done　when　Hornblower　first　came　on　board。　He　was　looking　for　signs　of　weakness　or　wavering…indeed；　he　was　looking　for　any　signs　of　human　feeling　at　all…but　he　could　detect　none。　Hornblower　had　reached　a　decision；　he　had　weighed　all　the　pros　and　cons；　and　his　logical　mind　told　him　that　having　decided　in　cold　blood　upon　a　course　of　action　it　would　be　folly　to　allow　himself　to　be　influenced　subsequently　by　untrustworthy　emotions。　The　conditions　of　the　duel　on　which　he　was　insisting　were　mathematically　advantageous。　If　he　had　once　considered　with　favour　escaping　from　Simpson's　persecution　by　a　voluntary　death　it　was　surely　a　gain　to　take　an　even　chance　of　escaping　from　it　without　dying。　Similarly；　if　Simpson　were　（as　he　almost　certainly　was）　a　better　swordsman　and　a　better　pistol　shot　than　him；　the　even　chance　was　again　mathematically　advantageous。　There　was　nothing　to　regret　about　his　recent　actions。
　All　very　well；　mathematically　the　conclusions　were　irrefutable；　but　Hornblower　was　surprised　to　find　that　mathematics　were　not　everything。　Repeatedly　during　that　dreary　afternoon　and　evening　Hornblower　found　himself　suddenly　gulping　with　anxiety　as　the　realization　came　to　him　afresh　that　to…morrow　morning　he　would　be　risking　his　life　on　the　spin　of　a　coin。　One　chance　out　of　two　and　he　would　be　dead；　his　consciousness　at　an　end；　his　flesh　cold；　and　the　world；　almost　unbelievably；　would　be　going　on　without　him。　The　thought　sent　a　shiver　through　him　despite　himself。　And　he　had　plenty　of　time　for　these　reflections；　for　the　convention　that　forbade　him　from　encountering　his　destined　opponent　before　the　moment　of　the　duel　kept　him　necessarily　in　isolation；　as　far　as　isola