csf.thecommodore-第28部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

　An　ormulu　clock　on　a　bracket　on　the　wall　struck　in　silvery　tones。
　〃The　hour　strikes；　you　see；　Your　Excellency；〃　said　Hornblower。　He　was　shaking　with　the　excitement　that　boiled　within　him。　He　felt　weak　and　empty。
　〃The　hour　strikes　indeed；〃　answered　the　Minister。　He　was　clearly　struggling　desperately　not　to　glance　back　at　the　Tsar。　〃As　regards　the　clock；　I　regret　it　deeply；　as　it　reminds　me　that　if　I　detain　you　longer　you　will　be　late　for　the　Imperial　reception。〃
　〃I　must　certainly　not　be　late　for　that；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃I　must　thank　you　for　the　clear　way　in　which　you　have　stated　your　views；　Captain。　I　shall　have　the　pleasure　of　meeting　you　at　the　reception。　His　Excellency　the　Grand　Marshal　will　show　you　the　way　to　the　Tauride　Hall。〃
　Hornblower　bowed；　still　keeping　his　eyes　from　wavering　towards　the　Tsar；　but　he　contrived　to　back　from　the　room　without　either　turning　his　back　on　the　Tsar　or　making　his　precaution　too　obvious。　They　squeezed　past　the　Cossacks　on　the　stairs　down　to　the　ground　floor　again。
　〃This　way；　if　you　please；　sir。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　
　Footmen　opened　two　more　huge　doors；　and　they　entered　a　vast　room；　the　lofty　ceiling　soaring　into　a　dome　far　above　their　heads。　The　walls　were　a　mass　of　marble　and　gold；　and　grouped　in　the　hall　was　a　crowd　of　people；　the　men　in　uniforms　of　all　the　colours　of　the　rainbow；　the　women　in　Court　dresses　with　plumes　and　trains。　Orders　and　jewels　reflected　the　light　of　innumerable　candles。
　A　group　of　men　and　women；　laughing　and　joking　in　French；　opened　their　ranks　to　admit　Hornblower　and　the　Grand　Marshal。
　〃I　have　the　honour　to　present　…〃　began　the　latter。　It　was　a　prolonged　introduction；　the　Countess　of　This；　and　the　Baroness　of　That；　and　the　Duchess　of　the　Other；　beautiful　women；　some　of　them　bold…eyed　and　some　of　them　languid。　Hornblower　bowed　and　bowed　again；　the　Star　of　the　Bath　thumping　his　chest　each　time　he　straightened　up。
　〃You　will　partner　the　Countess　Canerine　at　dinner；　Captain；〃　said　the　Grand　Marshal；　and　Hornblower　bowed　again。
　〃Delighted；〃　he　said。
　The　Countess　was　the　boldest…eyed　and　most　beautiful　of　them　all；　under　the　arches　of　her　brows　her　eyes　were　dark　and　liquid　and　yet　with　a　consuming　fire　within　them。　Her　face　was　a　perfect　oval；　her　plexion　like　rose　petals；　her　magnificent　bosom　white　as　snow　above　the　low　décolleté　of　her　Court　dress。
　〃As　a　distinguished　stranger；〃　went　on　the　Grand　Marshal；　〃you　will　take　precedence　immediately　after　the　Ambassadors　and　Ministers。　Preceding　you　will　be　the　Persian　Ambassador；　His　Excellency　Gorza　Khan。〃
　The　Grand　Marshal　indicated　an　individual　in　turban　and　diamonds；　it　was　a　bit　of　blessed　good　fortune　that　he　was　the　most　easily　identified　person　in　the　whole　crowd；　seeing　that　Hornblower　would　have　to　follow　him。　Everyone　else　in　the　group　looked　with　even　greater　interest　at　this　English　captain　who　was　being　accorded　such　distinction；　the　Countess　rolled　a　considering　eye　upon　him；　but　the　Grand　Marshal　interrupted　the　exchange　of　glances　by　continuing　the　introductions。　The　gentlemen　returned　Hornblower's　bows。
　〃His　Imperial　Majesty；〃　said　the　Grand　Marshal；　filling　in　the　gap　in　the　conversation　when　the　introductions　were　pleted；　〃will　be　wearing　the　uniform　of　the　Simonouski　Guards。〃
　Hornblower　caught　sight　of　Wychwood　across　the　room；　his　bearskin　under　his　arm　and　Basse　at　his　side；　being　introduced　to　another　group。　They　exchanged　nods；　and　Hornblower　returned；　a　little　distractedly；　to　the　conversation　of　his　own　group。　The　Countess　was　asking　him　about　his　ship；　and　he　tried　to　tell　her　about　Nonsuch。　Through　the　far　doors　there　was　filing　a　double　line　of　soldiers；　tall　young　men　in　breastplates　that　shone　like　silver　…　that　probably　were　silver　…　with　silver　helmets　with　waving　white　plumes。
　〃The　Chevalier　Guard；〃　explained　the　Countess；　〃all　young　men　of　noble　birth。〃
　She　looked　at　them　with　distinct　approval；　they　were　forming　against　the　walls　at　intervals　of　two　or　three　yards；　each　standing　like　a　silver　statue　as　soon　as　he　reached　his　post。　The　crowd　was　moving　slowly　away　from　the　centre　of　the　room；　leaving　it　clear。　Hornblower　wondered　where　the　rest　of　his　officers　were；　he　looked　round；　and　realized　that　there　was　a　further　crowd　of　uniformed　individuals　in　the　gallery　which　ran　at　first…floor　level　three…quarters　of　the　way　round　the　dome　over　his　head。　That　would　be　where　the　lesser　people　could　look　down　on　the　doings　of　the　great。　He　saw　Hurst　and　Mound　leaning　against　the　balustrade。　Behind　them　young　Somers；　his　low…crowned　hat　in　his　hand；　was　talking　with　elaborate　pantomime　to　a　trio　of　pretty　girls；　who　were　holding　weakly　on　to　each　other　as　they　laughed。　Heaven　only　knew　what　language　Somers　was　trying　to　talk；　but　he　was　evidently　making　himself　agreeable。
　It　was　Braun　that　Hornblower　was　worried　about；　yet　what　with　the　violence　of　his　reaction　after　his　speech…making；　and　the　chatter　and　glitter　around　him；　and　the　sultry　glances　of　the　Countess；　it　was　hard　to　think。　Hornblower　had　to　drive　himself　to　keep　his　mind　on　his　subject。　The　pistol　in　Braun's　waistband　…　the　fierce　intensity　of　Braun's　expression　…　that　gallery　up　there。　He　could　fit　the　pieces　of　the　puzzle　together　if　only　he　were　left　undistracted　for　a　moment。
　〃The　Prince　of　Sweden　will　make　his　entry　with　His　Imperial　Majesty；〃　the　Countess　was　saying。
　The　Prince　of　Sweden！　Bernadotte；　the　initiator　of　a　new　dynasty；　the　supplanter　of　Gustavus；　for　whom　Braun　had　risked　life　and　fortune。　Alexander　had　conquered　Finland；　Bernadotte　had　abandoned　it　to　him。　The　two　men　whom　Braun　had　most　reason　to　hate　in　the　whole　world　were　probably　Alexander　and　Bernadotte。　And　Braun　was　armed　with　a　double…barrelled　pistol；　a　rifled　pistol　with　percussion　caps　that　never　missed　fire　and　which　carried　true　for　fifty　yards。　Hornblower　swept　the　gallery　with　his　eyes。　There　he　was；　at　the　far　end；　standing　unobtrusively　between　two　pillars。　Something　must　be　done　at　once。　The　Grand　Marshal　was　chattering　affably　with　a　couple　of　courtiers；　and　Hornblower　turned　to　him；　abandoning　the　Countess　and　breaking　rudely　into　the　conversation　with　the　only　excuse　that　he　could　think　of。
　〃Impossible！〃　said　the　Grand　Marshal；　glancing　at　the　clock。　〃His　Imperial　Majesty　and　His　Royal　Highness　enter　in　three　and　a　half　minutes。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　Hornblower。　〃I　regret　it　deeply；　but　I　must　…　it　is　absolutely　necessary　…　it　is　urgent　…〃
　Hornblower　fairly　danced　with　anxiety；　and　the　gesture　reinforced　the　argument　he　had　already　advanced。　The　Grand　Marshal　stood　weighing　the　relative　undesirability　of　interrupting　a　Court　ceremony　and　offending　someone　who；　as　the　recent　interview　showed；　might　have　the　ear　of　the　Tsar。
　〃Go　out　through　that　door；　then；　sir；〃　he　said　reluctantly　at　length；　pointing；　〃and　please；　sir；　e　back　without　calling　attention　to　yourself。〃
　Hornblower　fled；　sidling　rapidly　but　as　unobtrusively　as　possible　through　the　groups　of　people　to　the　door；　he　slipped　through　it　and　glanced　round　desperately。　The　broad　staircase　to　the　left　must　lead　up　to　the　gallery。　He　grasped　the　scabbard　of　his　sword　to　keep　it　from　tripping　him　up　and　ran　up　the　stairs　two　at　a　time；　the　one　or　two　footmen　whom　he　passed　hardly　spared　him　a　glance。　The　gallery　was　crowded；　although　the　dresses　were　not　as　beautiful　nor　the　uniforms　as　brilliant。　Hornblower　hurried　along　towards　the　end　where　he　had　seen　Braun；　he　took　long　strides　while　doing　his　best　to　look　like　a　nonchalant　stroller。　Mound　caught　his　eye　…　Hornblower　could　not　spare　the　time　to　say　anything；　dared　not　risk　saying　a　word；　but　he　put　all　the　meaning　into　his　glance　that　he　could；　hoping　that　Mound　would　follow　him。　Down　below　he　heard　the　sound　of　doors　being　thrown　open；　and　the　babble　of　conversation　stopped　abruptly。　A　loud　harsh　voice　announced；　〃L'Empéreur！　L'Impératrice！　Le　Prince　Royal　de　Suède！〃
　Braun　stood　there　between　the　two　pillars；　glancing　down。　His　hand　was　at　his　waist；　he　was　drawing　the　pistol。　There　was　only　one　silent　way　to　stop　him。　Hornblower　whipped　out　his　sword　…　the　hundred…guinea　gold…hilted　sword；　the　gift　of　the　Patriotic　Fund；　with　an　edge　like　a　razor　…　and　he　slashed　at　the　wrist　of　the　hand　that　held　the　pistol。　With　the　tendons　severed　the　fingers　opened　nervelessly　and　the　pistol　fell　heavily　on　the　carpeted　floor　while　Braun　turned　in　gaping　surprise；　looking　first　at　the　blood　spouting　from　his　wrist　and　then　at　Hornblower's　face。　Hornblower　put　the　point　of　the　blade　at　his　breast；　he　could　lunge　and　kill　him　on　the　instant；　and　every　line　in　his　expression　must　have　attested　the　genuineness　of　his　determination　to　do　so　if　necessary；　for　Braun　uttered　no　sound；　made　no　movement。　Somebody　loomed　up　at　Hornblower's　shoulder；　it　was　Mound；　thank　God。
　〃Look　after　him；〃　whispered　Hornblower。　〃Tie　that　wrist　up！　Get　him　out　of　here　somehow。〃
　He　glanced　over　the　railing。　A　little　crowd　of　royalty　was　advancing　through　the　huge　doors　opposite　and　below　him　…　Alexander　in　his　light…blue　uniform；　a　tall　swarthy　man　with　a　huge　nose　who　must　be　Bernadotte；　a　number　of　women；　two　with　crowns　who　must　be　the　Empress　and　Empress…Mother；　and　the　rest　in　plumes。　Brau