csf.thecommodore-第26部分

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　〃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　blockade　and　presented　to　him　by　one　of　Barbara's　diplomatic　friends。　Of　course　the　Russian　Army　was　organized　on　the　German　model；　and　German　uniforms　had　been　introduced　by　Peter　III。　Hornblower　stiffly　returned　the　salute　of　the　officer　of　the　guard；　standing　at　attention　long　enough　for　the　rest　of　the　party　to　catch　him　up；　the　Hussar　spoke　rapidly　to　Braun　in　Russian。
　〃There　are　carriages　waiting　for　us；　sir；〃　Braun　interpreted；　Hornblower　could　see　them　at　the　end　of　the　jetty；　two　big　open　landaus；　with　fine　horses　to　each；　in　the　drivers'　seats　sat　coachmen　pigtailed　and　powdered　wearing　red　coats　…　not　the　scarlet　of　the　British　Army　or　of　the　British　royal　liveries；　but　a　softer；　strawberry　red。　Footmen　similarly　dressed　stood　at　the　horses'　heads　and　at　the　carriage　doors。
　〃Senior　officers　go　in　the　first　carriage；〃　explained　Braun。
　Hornblower　climbed　in；　with　Wychwood　and　Hurst　after　him；　with　an　apologetic　smile　the　Hussar　followed　them　and　sat　with　his　back　to　the　horses。　The　door　shut。　One　footman　leaped　up　beside　the　coachman　and　the　other　sprang　up　behind；　and　the　horses　dashed　forward。　The　road　wound　through　a　vast　park；　alternate　sweeps　of　grass　and　groves　of　trees；　here　and　there　fountains　threw　lofty　jets　of　water　at　the　sky；　and　marble　naiads　posed　by　marble　basins。　Occasional　turns　in　the　road　opened　up　beautiful　vistas　down　the　terraced　lawns；　there　were　long　flights　of　marble　steps　and　beautiful　little　marble　pavilions；　but　also；　at　every　turning；　beside　every　fountain　and　every　pavilion；　there　were　sentries　on　guard；　stiffly　presenting　arms　as　the　carriages　whirled　by。
　〃Every　Tsar　for　the　last　three　generations　has　been　murdered；〃　remarked　Wychwood。　〃It's　only　the　women　who　die　in　their　beds。　Alexander　is　taking　precautions。〃
　The　carriage　turned　sharply　again　and　came　out　on　a　broad　gravelled　parade　ground；　on　the　farther　side　Hornblower　just　had　time　to　see　the　palace；　a　rambling　rococo　building　of　pink　and　grey　stone　with　a　dome　at　either　end；　before　the　carriage　drew　up　at　the　entrance　to　the　salute　of　a　further　guard；　and　a　white…powdered　footman　opened　the　doors。　With　a　few　polite　words　in　Russian　the　Hussar　led　the　party　forward　up　a　flight　of　pink　marble　steps　and　into　a　lofty　anteroom。　A　swarm　of　servants　came　forward　to　take　their　boat…cloaks；　Hornblower　remembered　to　put　his　cocked　hat　under　his　arm　and　the　others　followed　his　example。　The　folding　doors　beyond　were　thrown　open；　and　they　went　towards　them；　to　be　received　by　a　dignified　official　whose　coat　was　of　the　same　Imperial　red　where　the　colour　was　visible　through　the　gold　lace。　He　wore　powder　and　carried　in　his　hand　a　gold…tipped　ebony　stave。
　〃Kotchubey；〃　he　said；　speaking　fair　French。　〃Grand　Marshal　of　the　Palace。　modore　Hornblower？　Lord　Wychwood？〃
　They　bowed　to　him；　and　Hornblower　presented　the　others；　he　saw　the　Grand　Marshal　run　an　all…embracing　eye　over　their　uniforms　to　make　sure　that　nothing　unworthy　of　the　Court　of　the　Tsar　would　penetrate　farther　into　the　palace。　Then　he　turned　back　to　Hornblower　and　Wychwood。
　〃His　Excellency　the　Minister　of　Marine　would　be　honoured　if　modore　Hornblower　would　grant　him　time　for　a　short　interview。〃
　〃I　am　at　His　Excellency's　service；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃but　I　am　here　at　the　mand　of　His　Imperial　Majesty。〃
　〃That　is　very　good　of　you；　sir。　There　will　be　time　before　His　Imperial　Majesty　appears。　And　His　Excellency　the　Minister　of　Foreign　Affairs　would　be　honoured　by　Lord　Wychwood's　attention　for　a　few　minutes　in　a　similar　way。〃
　〃I　am　at　His　Excellency's　service；〃　said　Wychwood。　For　a　man　of　his　experience　his　French　was　remarkably　poor。
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Kotchubey。
　He　turned；　and　three　more　officers　of　the　Court　approached　at　his　gesture。　They　wore　less　gold　lace　than　Kotchubey；　and　from　the　gold　keys　embroidered　on　their　lapels　Hornblower　knew　them　to　be　chamberlains。　There　were　further　introductions；　more　bows。
　〃Now　if　you　have　the　kindness　to　acpany　me；　sir　…〃　said　Kotchubey　to　Hornblower。
　Two　chamberlains　took　charge　of　the　junior　officers；