csf.thecommodore-第27部分

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　〃Now　if　you　have　the　kindness　to　acpany　me；　sir　…〃　said　Kotchubey　to　Hornblower。
　Two　chamberlains　took　charge　of　the　junior　officers；　one　took　charge　of　Wychwood；　and　Kotchubey　led　Hornblower　away。　Hornblower　gave　one　last　glance　at　his　party。　Even　the　stolid　Hurst；　even　the　deliberately　languid　Mound；　wore　rather　scared　expressions　at　being　abandoned　by　their　captain　like　this　in　an　Imperial　palace。　Hornblower　was　reminded　of　children　being　handed　over　by　their　parents　to　a　strange　nurse。　But　Braun's　expression　was　different。　His　green　eyes　were　glowing　with　excitement；　and　there　was　a　new　tenseness　about　his　features；　and　he　was　casting　glances　about　him　like　a　man　preparing　himself　for　some　decisive　action。　Hornblower　felt　a　wave　of　misgiving　break　over　him；　during　the　excitement　of　setting　foot　in　Russia　he　had　forgotten　about　Braun；　about　the　stolen　pistol；　about　everything　connected　with　him。　He　wanted　time　to　think；　and　yet　Kotchubey　was　hurrying　him　away　and　allowing　him　no　time。　They　walked　through　a　magnificent　room　…　Hornblower　was　only　just　conscious　of　its　furniture；　pictures；　and　statuary　…　and　through　folding　doors　beyond；　which　were　opened　for　them　by　two　of　the　footmen　who　seemed　to　be　present　in　hundreds。　The　corridor　was　wide　and　lofty；　more　like　a　picture　gallery　than　a　corridor；　but　Kotchubey　only　went　a　few　yards　along　it。　He　stopped　abruptly　at　an　inconspicuous　door；　from　before　which　two　more　footmen　stepped　with　alacrity　at　his　approach。　The　door　opened　straight　upon　a　steep　winding　stairway；　half…way　up　there　was　another　door；　this　one　guarded　by　four　burly　soldiers　in　pink　uniforms　with　high　boots　and　baggy　breeches　whom　Hornblower　recognized　as　the　first　Cossacks　he　had　ever　seen　in　the　flesh。　They　nearly　jammed　the　narrow　stairway　as　they　drew　back　against　the　wall　to　make　way；　Hornblower　had　to　push　past　them。　Kotchubey　scratched　upon　the　door　and　instantly　opened　it；　immediately　drawing　Hornblower　after　him　with　a　gesture　as　though　he　were　a　conspirator。
　〃Sir　Hornblower；〃　he　announced；　having　shut　the　door。　The　big　man　in　the　vaguely　naval　uniform；　with　epaulettes　and　a　string　of　orders　across　his　breast；　must　be　the　Minister　of　Marine；　he　came　forward　cordially；　speaking　fair　French　and　with　a　courtly　apology　for　not　speaking　English。　But　in　the　far　corner　of　the　room　was　another　figure；　tall　and　slender；　in　a　beautiful　light…blue　uniform。　He　was　strikingly　handsome；　but　as　though　he　came　from　another　world；　the　ivory　pallor　of　his　cheeks；　accentuated　by　his　short　black　side…whiskers；　was　more　unnatural　than　unhealthy。　He　made　no　move　as　he　sat　stiffly　upright　in　the　dark　corner；　his　finger…tips　resting　on　a　low　table　before　him；　and　neither　of　the　Russian　officials　gave　any　overt　sign　of　acknowledging　his　presence；　but　Hornblower　knew　that　it　was　the　Tsar；　thinking　quickly；　he　realized　that　if　the　Tsar's　own　officials　pretended　the　Tsar　was　not　there；　then　he　could　do　no　less。　He　kept　his　eyes　on　the　Minister　of　Marine's。
　〃I　trust；〃　said　the　latter；　〃that　I　see　you　in　good　health？〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃I　am　in　the　best　of　health。〃
　〃And　your　squadron？〃
　〃That　is　in　the　best　of　health　too；　Your　Excellency。〃
　〃Does　it　need　anything？〃
　Hornblower　had　to　think　quickly　again。　On　the　one　hand　was　the　desire　to　appear　utterly　independent；　but　on　the　other　there　was　the　nagging　knowledge　that　water　would　soon　be　running　short。　Every　manding　officer；　whether　of　ships　or　squadron；　carried　always　at　the　back　of　his　mind　the　vital；　urgent　need　for　renewing　his　ship's　drinking　water。　And　a　Minister　of　Marine　…　even　a　Russian　one　…　must　be　aware　of　that。
　〃Firewood　and　water；　as　always；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃would　be　of　the　greatest　convenience。〃
　〃I　shall　inquire　if　it　is　convenient　to　send　a　water…boat　to　your　squadron　to…morrow　morning；〃　said　the　Minister。
　〃I　thank　Your　Excellency；〃　said　Hornblower；　wondering　what　he　would　be　asked　to　do　in　exchange。
　〃You　have　been　informed；　sir；〃　said　the　Minister；　changing　the　subject　so　obviously　that　Hornblower　could　only　attribute　it　to　nervousness　at　having　the　Tsar　listening　to　the　conversation；　〃of　Bonaparte's　occupation　of　Swedish　Pomerania？〃
　〃Yes；　Your　Excellency。〃
　〃And　what　is　your　opinion　of　that　transaction？〃
　Hornblower　delayed　his　answer　while　he　sorted　out　his　thoughts　and　worked　out　the　French　phrases。
　〃Typical　Bonapartism；〃　he　said。　〃He　tolerates　neutrality　on　the　part　of　weak　powers　only　while　he　can　profit　by　it。　The　moment　he　finds　it　inconveniences　him；　he　treacherously　sends　forward　his　army；　and　on　the　heels　of　the　army　march　all　the　plagues　of　Bonapartism；　terror　and　famine　and　misery。　The　gaol；　the　firing　party；　and　the　secret　police。　The　bankers　and　the　merchants　are　stripped　of　all　they　possess。　The　men　are　thrust　into　the　ranks　of　his　army；　and　the　women　…　all　the　world　knows　what　happens　to　the　women。〃
　〃But　do　you　not　believe　his　object　was　merely　plunder？〃
　〃No；　Your　Excellency　…　although　plunder　is　always　useful　to　Bonaparte's　top…heavy　finances。　He　overran　Pomerania　the　moment　it　was　apparent　that　its　usefulness　as　a　neutral　base　for　his　privateers　had　ceased　with　the　appearance　of　my　squadron。〃
　Inspiration　came　to　Hornblower　at　that　moment；　his　expression　must　have　changed；　for　as　he　hesitated　the　Minister　prompted　him　with　obvious　interest。
　〃Monsieur　was　going　to　say　…　？〃
　〃Bonaparte　controls　the　whole　Baltic　coast　now；　as　far　as　the　frontiers　of　His　Imperial　Majesty's　dominions。　That　would　be　most　convenient　to　him　in　one　particular　event；　Your　Excellency。　In　the　event　of　his　deciding　to　launch　an　attack　on　Russia。〃　Hornblower　threw　into　those　words　all　the　power　of　speech　that　he　could　muster；　and　the　Minister　nodded　…　Hornblower　did　not　dare；　much　as　he　wanted　to；　to　throw　a　glance　at　the　Tsar　to　see　what　effect　his　words　had　on　him。
　〃Bonaparte　would　never　feel　easy　in　his　mind　regarding　his　munications　while　Pomerania　was　Swedish　so　long　as　there　was　a　British　fleet　in　the　Baltic。　It　could　be　too　good　a　base　for　an　attack　on　his　rear；　convoyed　by　my　squadron。　He　has　eliminated　that　danger　now　…　he　can　march　an　army　against　St　Petersburg；　should　he　attack　Russia；　without　fear　of　its　being　cut　off。　It　is　one　more　threat　to　His　Imperial　Majesty's　dominions。〃
　〃And　how　serious　do　you　consider　his　threats　to　be　regarding　Russia；　sir？〃
　〃Bonaparte's　threats　are　always　serious。　You　know　his　methods；　Your　Excellency。　A　demand　for　concessions；　and　when　the　concessions　are　granted　then　new　demands；　each　one　more　weakening　than　the　one　before；　until　either　the　object　of　his　attentions　is　too　weak　to　oppose　him　further　or　is　at　least　so　weakened　as　to　make　armed　resistance　fatal。　He　will　not　rest　until　all　his　demands　are　granted；　and　what　he　demands　is　nothing　short　of　the　dominion　of　the　world；　until　every　nation　is　in　bondage　to　him。〃
　〃Monsieur　is　very　eloquent。〃
　〃I　am　eloquent　because　I　speak　from　the　heart；　Your　Excellency。　For　nineteen　years；　since　my　boyhood；　I　have　served　my　country　against　the　monstrous　power　which　overshadows　Europe。〃
　〃And　with　what　effect　has　your　country　fought？〃
　〃My　country　is　still　free。　In　the　history　of　the　world　that　counts　for　much。　And　now　it　counts　for　more。　England　is　striking　back。　Portugal；　Sicily；　are　free　too；　thanks　to　England。　Her　armies　are　marching　into　Spain　even　while　I　am　speaking　to　you　here；　Your　Excellency。　Soon　Bonaparte　will　be　defending　the　very　frontiers　of　his　boasted　Empire　against　them。　We　have　found　the　weak　spot　in　the　vast　structure；　we　are　probing　into　it；　on　to　the　very　foundations；　and　soon　the　whole　elaborate　mass　will　crumble　into　ruin。〃
　The　little　room　must　be　very　warm；　Hornblower　found　himself　sweating　in　his　heavy　uniform。
　〃And　here　in　the　Baltic？〃
　〃Here　England　has　penetrated　too。　Not　one　of　Bonaparte's　ships　will　move　from　to…day　without　my　permission。　England　is　ready　with　her　support。　She　is　ready　to　pour　in　money　and　arms　to　help　any　power　that　will　withstand　the　tyrant。　Bonaparte　is　ringed　in　from　the　South　and　the　West　and　the　North。　There　is　only　the　East　left　to　him。　That　is　where　he　will　strike　and　that　is　where　he　must　be　opposed。〃
　It　was　the　handsome；　pale　young　man　in　the　dark　corner　of　the　room　to　whom　these　remarks　were　really　addressed。　The　Minister　of　Marine　had　a　far　smaller　stake　on　the　board　of　international　politics　than　did　his　master。　Other　kings　in　war　risked　a　province　or　two；　risked　their　dignity　or　their　fame；　but　the　Tsar　of　Russia；　the　most　powerful　and　autocratic　of　them　all；　risked　his　life；　and　there　was　no　gainsaying　that。　A　word　from　the　Tsar　might　send　a　nobleman　to　Siberia；　another　word　might　set　half　a　million　men　on　the　move　to　war；　but　if　either　move　were　a　false　one　the　Tsar　would　pay　for　it　with　his　life。　A　military　defeat；　a　momentary　loss　of　control　over　his　courtiers　or　his　guards；　and　the　Tsar　was　doomed；　first　to　dethronement　and　then　to　inevitable　murder。　That　had　been　the　fate　of　his　father；　and　of　his　grandfather。　If　he　fought　and　was　unsuccessful；　if　he　did　not　fight　and　lost　his　prestige　there　would　be　a　silken　scarf　round　his　throat　or　a　dozen　swords　between　his　ribs。
　An　ormulu　clock　on　a　bracket　on　the　wall　struck　in　silvery　tones。
　〃The