csf.thecommodore-第31部分

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s　lean　gangling　body　looking　like　an　overgrown　colt's。
　〃We　have　him　in　a　side　room　aloft；　sir；〃　he　reported。　〃He　fainted　with　the　loss　of　blood　…　we　had　to　put　a　tourniquet　on　his　arm　to　stop　the　bleeding。　We　bandaged　him　with　half　of　Somers'　shirt；　and　Somers　and　Mr　Hurst　are　keeping　guard　over　him。〃
　〃Does　anyone　know　about　it？〃
　〃No；　sir。　We　got　him　into　the　room　without　anyone　seeing　us。　I　poured　a　glass　of　liquor　over　his　coat　and　from　the　stink　of　him　anyone'll　think　he's　drunk。〃
　Mound　was　obviously　a　capable　man　in　an　emergency；　as　Hornblower　had　already　suspected。
　〃Very　good。〃
　〃The　sooner　we　get　him　away　the　better；　sir；〃　said　Mound；　with　a　diffidence　to　be　expected　of　a　junior　officer　making　suggestions　to　a　senior。
　〃You're　quite　right；〃　said　Hornblower；　〃except　that　…〃
　Hornblower　was　still　having　to　think　quickly。　It　would　hardly　be　possible；　in　any　case；　to　leave　at　once；　the　moment　dinner　was　over。　It　would　not　be　polite。　And　there　was　the　Countess　over　there；　presumably　watching　them。　If　they　were　to　leave　now；　immediately　after　conferring　together　…　and　breaking　an　engagement　with　her　…　she　would　be　full　of　suspicion；　as　well　as　of　the　fury　of　a　woman　scorned。　They　simply　could　not　leave　immediately。
　〃We　shall　have　to　stay　another　hour　at　least；〃　he　said。　〃The　conventions　demand　it。　Go　back　and　hold　the　fort　for　that　time。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Mound　restrained　himself　in　the　nick　of　time　from　ing　to　attention　as　with　the　habit　of　years　he　had　grown　accustomed　to　do　when　uttering　those　words　…　further　proof　of　the　clearness　of　his　head。　He　nodded　and　wandered　off　as　if　they　had　been　merely　discussing　the　weather；　and　Hornblower　allowed　his　slow　legs　to　carry　him　over　towards　the　Countess。
　She　smiled　at　his　approach。
　〃Princess；〃　she　said；　〃you　have　not　met　modore　Hornblower？　The　Princess　de　Stolp。〃
　Hornblower　bowed；　the　Princess　was　an　elderly　woman　with　a　good　deal　left　of　what　must　have　been　marvellous　beauty。
　〃The　modore；〃　went　on　the　Countess；　〃has　expressed　a　desire　to　see　the　picture　gallery。　Would　you　care　to　e　with　us；　Princess？〃
　〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　the　Princess；　〃I　fear　I　am　too　old　for　picture　galleries。　But　go；　my　children；　without　me。〃
　〃I　would　not　like　to　leave　you　alone；　here；〃　protested　the　Countess。
　〃Even　at　my　age；　I　can　boast　that　I　am　still　never　left　long　alone；　Countess。　Leave　me；　I　beg　you。　Enjoy　yourselves；　children。〃
　Hornblower　bowed　again；　and　the　Countess　took　his　arm；　and　they　walked　slowly　out。　She　pressed　his　arm；　while　footmen　stood　aside　to　allow　them　passage。
　〃The　Italian　pictures　of　the　Cinque　Cento　are　in　the　far　gallery；〃　said　the　Countess　as　they　came　into　the　broad　corridor。　〃Would　you　care　to　see　the　more　modern　ones　first？〃
　〃As　madame　wishes；〃　said　Hornblower。
　Once　through　a　door；　once　out　of　the　ceremonial　part　of　the　palace；　it　was　like　a　rabbit　warren；　narrow　passages；　innumerable　staircases；　an　infinity　of　rooms。　The　apartment　to　which　she　led　him　was　on　the　first　floor；　a　sleepy　maid　who　was　awaiting　her　ing　vanished　into　the　room　beyond　they　came　into　the　luxurious　sitting…room。　It　was　into　the　room　beyond　that　the　Countess　called　him；　five　minutes　later。
　
　CHAPTER　THIRTEEN
　
　Hornblower　turned　over　in　his　cot　with　a　groan；　the　effort　of　turning　brought　back　the　pain　into　his　temples；　although　he　moved　very　cautiously。　He　was　a　fool　to　have　drunk　so　much　…　it　was　the　first　time　he　had　had　this　sort　of　headache　for　half　a　dozen　years。　Yet　it　had　been　hard　to　avoid；　just　as　everything　else　had　been　hard　to　avoid；　he　did　not　know　what　else　he　could　have　done；　once　events　had　him　in　their　grip。　He　raised　his　voice　and　shouted　for　Brown　…　it　hurt　his　head　again　to　shout；　and　his　voice　was　a　hoarse　croak。　He　heard　the　voice　of　the　sentry　at　the　door　passing　on　the　word；　and　with　an　infinity　of　effort　he　sat　up　and　put　his　legs　out　of　bed；　determined　that　Brown　should　not　find　him　prostrate。
　〃Bring　me　some　coffee；〃　he　said　when　Brown　came　in。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　continued　to　sit　on　the　edge　of　his　cot。　Overhead　he　heard　the　raucous　voice　of　Hurst　blaring　through　the　skylight；　apparently　addressing　a　delinquent　midshipman。
　〃A　fine　young　flibberty…gibbet　you　are；〃　said　Hurst　〃Look　at　that　brasswork！　D'you　call　that　bright？　Where　d'you　keep　your　eyes？　What's　your　division　been　doing　this　last　hour？　God；　what's　the　Navy　ing　to；　when　warrants　are　given　to　young　jackanapes　who　couldn't　keep　their　noses　clear　with　a　marline…spike！　You　call　yourself　a　King's　officer？　You're　more　like　a　winter's　day；　short；　dark；　and　dirty！〃
　Hornblower　took　the　coffee　Brown　brought　in。
　〃My　pliments　to　Mr　Hurst；〃　he　croaked；　〃and　ask　him　kindly　not　to　make　so　much　noise　over　my　skylight。〃
　〃Aye　aye；　sir。〃
　The　first　satisfaction　that　day　was　to　hear　Hurst　cut　his　tirade　abruptly　short。　Hornblower　sipped　at　the　scalding　coffee　with　some　degree　of　pleasure。　It　was　not　surprising　that　Hurst　should　be　in　a　bad　temper　to…day。　He　had　been　through　a　harassing　evening　the　night　before；　Hornblower　remembered　Hurst　and　Mound　carrying　Braun；　unconscious　and　reeking　with　spirits；　into　the　carriage　at　the　palace　door。　Hurst　had　been　strictly　sober；　but　apparently　the　mental　strain　of　keeping　guard　over　a　secret　assassin　in　the　Tsar's　palace　had　been　too　much　for　his　nerves。　Hornblower　handed　his　cup　back　to　Brown　to　be　refilled　when　Brown　reappeared；　and　pulled　his　nightshirt　over　his　head　as　he　waited。　Something　caught　his　eye　as　he　laid　his　nightshirt　on　his　cot；　it　was　a　flea；　leaping　high　out　of　the　sleeve。　In　a　wave　of　disgust　he　looked　down　at　himself；　his　smooth　round　belly　was　pockmarked　with　flea…bites。　That　was　a　striking　mentary　on　the　difference　between　an　Imperial　palace　and　one　of　His　Britannic　Majesty's　ships　of　the　line。　When　Brown　returned　with　his　second　cup　of　coffee　Hornblower　was　still　cursing　fiercely　both　at　Imperial　uncleanness　and　at　the　dreary　prospect　of　the　nuisance　of　having　to　rid　himself　of　vermin　to　which　he　was　peculiarly　susceptible。
　〃Take　that　grin　off　your　face；〃　snapped　Hornblower；　〃or　I'll　send　you　to　the　grating　to　see　if　you　grin　there！〃
　Brown　was　not　grinning；　all　that　could　be　said　about　his　expression　was　that　he　was　too　obviously　not　grinning。　What　irritated　Hornblower　was　the　knowledge　that　Brown　was　enjoying　the　superior　and　paternal　state　of　mind　of　one　who　has　not　a　headache　while　the　man　who　is　with　him　has。
　His　shower…bath　restored　some　of　Hornblower's　peace　of　mind；　and　he　put　on　clean　linen；　gave　Brown　orders　for　the　disinfection　of　his　clothes；　and　went　up　on　deck；　where　the　first　person　on　whom　he　laid　eyes　was　Wychwood；　bleary…eyed　and　obviously　with　a　far　worse　headache　than　he　had　himself。　Yet　the　keen　air　of　the　Russian　morning　was　invigorating　and　refreshing。　The　normal　early…morning　ship's　routine；　the　sight　of　the　rows　of　men　holystoning　the　decks；　the　pleasant　swish　of　the　water　over　the　planking；　were　forting　and　restorative　as　well。
　〃Boat　ing　off　to　us；　sir；〃　reported　a　midshipman　to　the　officer　of　the　watch。
　It　was　the　same　pinnace　as　had　taken　them　ashore　yesterday；　and　it　brought　a　naval　officer　with　a　letter　in　French　…
　
　His　Excellency　the　Minister　of　the　Imperial　Marine　presents　his　pliments　to　modore　Sir　Hornblower。　His　Excellency　has　given　orders　for　a　water…boat　to　be　alongside　the　Nonsuch　at　eleven　o'clock　this　morning。
　A　distinguished　nobleman；　M。　le　te　du　Nord；　having　expressed　a　desire　to　see　one　of　His　Britannic　Majesty's　Ships；　His　Excellency　proposes　to　trespass　upon　Sir　Hornblower's　hospitality　by　visiting　the　Nonsuch　at　ten　o'clock　in　pany　with　the　te　du　Nord。
　
　Hornblower　showed　the　letter　to　Wychwood；　who　confirmed　his　suspicions。
　〃That's　Alexander；〃　he　said。　〃He　used　the　title　of　te　du　Nord　when　he　was　travelling　on　the　continent　as　Tsarevitch；　He'll　be　corning　incognito；　so　that　there'll　be　no　need　for　royal　honours。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Hornblower　dryly；　a　little　nettled　at　this　soldier　giving　him　advice　beyond　what　he　was　asked　for。　〃But　an　Imperial　Minister　of　Marine　must　rank　with　a　First　Lord　of　the　Admiralty。　That'll　mean　nineteen　guns　and　all　the　other　honours。　Midshipman　of　the　watch！　My　pliments　to　the　captain；　and　I　shall　be　very　obliged　if　he　will　be　good　enough　to　e　on　deck。〃
　Bush　heard　the　news　with　a　low　whistle；　and　instantly　turned　to　sweep　decks　and　rigging　with　his　glance；　anxious　that　his　ship　should　be　in　the　perfection　of　condition　for　this　Imperial　visit。
　〃How　can　we　take　in　water；〃　asked　Bush　piteously；　〃and　be　in　a　fit　state　for　the　Tsar　to　e　on　board；　sir？　What　will　he　think　of　us？　Unless　we　water　the　flotilla　first。〃
　〃The　Tsar's　a　man　of　sense；〃　said　Hornblower；　briskly。　〃Let's　show　him　the　hands　at　work。　He　doesn't　know　the　difference　between　the　mizzen…stay　and　the　flying　jib…boom；　but　he'll　recognize　efficient　work　if　we　show　it　to　him。　Start　watering　while　he's　on　board。〃
　〃And　the　food？〃　asked　Bush。　〃We'll　have　to　offer　him　something；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　grinned　at　his　anxiety。
　〃Yes；　we'll　offer　him　something。〃
　It　was　typical　of　Hornblower's　contrary　temperament　that　the　more　difficulties　other　people　foresaw　the　more　cheerful　he　became；　the　only　person　really　capable　of　de