csf.thecommodore-第61部分

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　〃An　armistice；〃　said　Clausewitz。　〃An　immediate　suspension　of　hostilities。　The　definitive　terms　can　be　settled　easily　enough　at　leisure。〃
　Yorck　still　hesitated　for　a　moment。　Hornblower；　despite　his　weariness　and　illness；　could　study　him　with　a　renewed　flicker　of　interest；　the　hard　face；　surnburned　to　mahogany；　the　white　hair　and　moustache　in　strange　contrast。　Yorck　was　on　the　edge　of　his　fate。　At　present　he　was　a　loyal　subject　of　the　King　of　Prussia；　a　paratively　undistinguished　general。　He　had　only　to　say　two　words；　and　they　would　make　him　a　traitor　now　and　conceivably　an　historic　figure　in　the　future。　Prussia's　defection　…　at　any　rate；　the　defection　of　the　Prussian　army　…　would　reveal　the　hollowness　of　the　Napoleonic　Empire　in　a　way　nothing　else　could　do。　It　rested　with　Yorck。
　〃I　agree；〃　said　Yorck。
　That　was　all　Hornblower　wanted　to　hear。　He　could　lapse　into　his　dream　…　his　nightmare　…　now；　let　the　rest　of　the　discussion　take　whatever　course　it　would。　When　Clausewitz　turned　back　down　the　road　Hornblower's　horse　followed　him　without　any　guidance　from　Hornblower。　Brown　appeared；　just　his　face；　there　was　nothing　else　that　Hornblower　could　see。
　〃Are　you　all　right；　sir？〃
　〃Of　course　I　am；〃　said　Hornblower　automatically。　The　earth　that　Hornblower　found　himself　treading　was　soft；　as　though　he　were　walking　on　feather　beds　or　on　a　loosely　stretched　bit　of　sailcloth。　It　might　be　better　to　lie　down。　And　Hornblower　was　suddenly　conscious　that　there　was　something　beautiful　about　music　after　all。　He　had　gone　all　his　life　thinking　that　it　was　only　an　irritating　muddle　of　noises；　but　revelation　had　e　to　him　at　last。　It　was　lovely；　ecstatic；　this　music　that　he　heard；　peals　and　peals　of　it；　great　soaring　melodies。　He　had　to　raise　up　his　voice　to　join　in　with　it；　to　sing　and　sing　and　sing。　And　then　the　music　ended　in　a　final　crashing　chord；　leaving　a　silence　in　which　his　voice　sounded　hoarse；　like　a　crow's。　He　stopped；　feeling　rather　embarrassed。　It　was　as　well　that　somebody　else　was　available　to　take　up　the　song。　The　boatman　was　singing　as　he　pulled　at　his　sculls。
　〃Row；　row；　row　you　together　to　Hampton　Court　…〃
　A　delightful　tenor　voice；　on　account　of　it　Hornblower　was　ready　to　excuse　the　wherryman　for　such　an　impertinence　as　singing　while　he　rowed　up　the　river。
　〃Rowing　in　sunshiny　weather　…〃
　Barbara　beside　him　was　laughing　deliciously。　The　sunshine　was　beautiful　and　so　were　the　green　lawns　on　the　river　banks。　He　had　to　laugh　too；　laugh　and　laugh。　And　here　was　little　Richard　climbing　over　his　knees。　What　the　devil　was　Brown　doing；　staring　at　him　like　this？
　
　
　
　
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