csf.thecommodore-第3部分

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　The　servants　scattered　in　all　directions；　for　not　merely　must　the　weighty　orders　of　the　master　be　obeyed；　but　this　was　an　affair　of　State　and　doubly　important　in　consequence。　So　that　as　Hornblower　came　out　of　his　preoccupation　Barbara　was　standing　there　alone。
　God；　he　had　forgotten　all　about　her　in　his　excitement；　and　she　was　aware　of　it。　She　was　drooping　a　little；　and　one　corner　of　her　mouth　was　down。　Their　eyes　met　then；　and　that　corner　of　her　mouth　went　up　for　a　moment；　but　then　it　went　down　again。
　〃It's　the　Admiralty；〃　explained　Hornblower　lamely。　〃They'll　appoint　me　modore　with　a　captain　under　me。〃
　It　was　a　pity　that　Hornblower　could　see　her　try　to　appear　pleased。
　〃That's　a　high　pliment；〃　she　said。　〃No　more　than　you　deserve；　my　dear；　all　the　same。　You　must　be　pleased；　and　I　am　too。〃
　〃It　will　take　me　away　from　you；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Darling；　I　have　had　six　months　with　you。　Six　months　of　the　kind　of　happiness　you　have　given　me　is　more　than　any　woman　deserves。　And　you　will　e　back　to　me。〃
　〃Of　course　I　will；〃　said　Hornblower。
　
　Chapter　Two
　

　This　was　typical　April　weather。　It　had　been　miraculously　sunny　during　the　ceremony　at　the　foot　of　the　steps　of　Smallbridge　House；　but　it　had　rained　torrentially　once　already　during　the　twenty…mile　drive　to　London。　Then　the　sun　had　reappeared；　had　warmed　and　dried　them；　but　now　as　they　crossed　Wimbledon　mon　the　sky　was　black　again；　and　the　first　drops　began　to　drive　into　their　faces。　Hornblower　pulled　his　cloak　about　him　and　rebuttoned　the　collar。　His　cocked　hat　with　its　gold　lace　and　button　lay　on　his　knees　under　the　sheltering　tent　of　the　cloak；　cocked　hats　worn　for　long　in　the　rain　accumulated　pools　of　water　in　both　crown　and　brim　and　were　pulled　out　of　shape。
　Now　it　came；　wind　and　rain；　shrieking　down　from　the　west　in　unbelievable　contrast　with　the　delightful　weather　of　only　half　an　hour　before。　The　near…side　horse　had　the　full　brunt　of　it　and　was　inclined　to　shirk　its　work　in　consequence。　Brown　laid　the　whiplash　on　its　glistening　haunch　and　it　threw　itself　into　the　collar　in　a　fresh　spasm　of　energy。　Brown　was　a　good　whip　…　he　was　good　at　everything。　He　had　been　the　best　captain's　coxswain　Hornblower　had　ever　known；　he　had　been　a　loyal　subordinate　during　the　escape　from　France；　and　he　had　made　himself　into　the　best　manservant　heart　could　desire。　Now　he　sat　here；　tolerant　of　the　driving　rain；　the　slippery　leather　of　the　reins　grasped　in　a　big　brown　hand；　hand　and　wrist　and　forearm　acted　like　a　spring　to　maintain　that　subtle　pressure　upon　the　horses'　mouths　…　not　enough　pressure　to　interfere　in　the　least　with　their　work；　but　enough　to　give　them　confidence　on　the　slippery　road；　and　to　have　them　under　control　in　any　emergency。　They　were　pulling　the　chariot　over　the　muddy　macadam　up　the　steep　ascent　of　Wimbledon　mon　with　a　wholeheartedness　they　never　displayed　for　Hornblower。
　〃Would　you　like　to　go　to　sea　again；　Brown？〃　asked　Hornblower。　The　mere　fact　that　he　allowed　himself　to　make　this　unnecessary　speech　was　proof　of　how　much　Hornblower　was　lifted　out　of　himself　with　excitement。
　〃I'd　like　it　main　well；　sir；〃　said　Brown　shortly。
　Hornblower　was　left　to　guess　what　Brown　really　meant　…　whether　his　curtness　was　just　the　English　way　of　concealing　enthusiasm；　or　whether　Brown　was　merely　being　in　polite　agreement　with　his　master's　mood。
　The　rain　from　Hornblower's　wet　hair　was　trickling　down　his　neck　now　inside　his　collar。　He　ought　to　have　brought　a　sou'wester　with　him。　He　hunched　himself　together　on　the　padded　leather　seat；　resting　his　two　hands　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword　belted　round　his　waist　…　the　hundred…guinea　sword　given　him　by　the　Patriotic　Fund。　With　the　sword　vertical　his　hands　held　the　heavy　wet　cloak　away　from　the　cocked　hat　on　his　knees。　Another　little　rivulet　coursed　down　inside　his　clothes　and　made　him　squirm。　By　the　time　the　shower　had　passed　he　was　thoroughly　damp　and　unfortable；　but　here　once　more　came　the　glorious　sun。　The　raindrops　in　the　gorse　and　the　brambles　shone　like　diamonds；　the　horses　steamed；　larks　resumed　their　song　far　overhead；　and　Hornblower　threw　open　his　cloak　and　wiped　his　damp　hair　and　neck　with　his　handkerchief。　Brown　eased　the　horses　to　a　walk　at　the　crest　of　the　hill　to　breathe　them　before　the　brisk　descent。
　〃London；　sir；〃　he　said。
　And　there　it　was。　The　rain　had　washed　the　smoke　and　dust　out　of　the　air　so　that　even　at　that　distance　the　gilt　cross　and　bell　over　St　Paul's　gleamed　in　the　sunshine。　The　church　spires；　dwarfed　by　the　dome；　stood　out　with　unnatural　clarity。　The　very　roof…tops　were　distinct。　Brown　clicked　his　tongue　at　the　horses　and　they　broke　once　more　into　a　trot；　rattling　the　chariot　down　the　steep　descent　into　Wandsworth；　and　Hornblower　pulled　out　his　watch。　It　was　no　more　than　two　o'clock；　ample　time　to　do　business。　Even　though　his　shirt　was　damp　inside　his　coat　this　was　a　far　better　day　than　he　had　anticipated　when　he　sat　in　his　bath　that　morning。
　Brown　drew　the　horses　to　a　halt　outside　the　Admiralty；　and　a　ragged　urchin　appeared　who　guarded　the　wheel　so　that　it　did　not　muddy　Hornblower's　cloak　and　uniform　as　he　climbed　down　from　the　chariot。
　〃At　the　Golden　Cross；　then；　Brown；〃　said　Hornblower；　fumbling　for　a　copper　for　the　urchin。
　〃Aye　aye；　sir；〃　said　Brown；　wheeling　the　horses　round。
　Hornblower　carefully　put　on　his　cocked　hat；　settled　his　coat　more　smoothly；　and　centred　the　buckle　of　his　sword…belt。　At　Smallbridge　House　he　was　Sir　Horatio；　master　of　the　house；　lord　of　the　manor；　autocrat　undisputed；　but　now　he　was　just　Captain　Hornblower　going　in　to　see　the　Lords　of　the　Admiralty。　But　Admiral　Louis　was　all　cordiality。　He　left　Hornblower　waiting　no　more　than　three　minutes　in　the　anteroom　…　no　longer　than　would　be　necessary　to　get　rid　of　his　visitor　of　the　moment　…　and　he　shook　hands　with　obvious　pleasure　at　the　sight　of　him；　he　rang　the　bell　for　a　clerk　to　take　Hornblower's　wet　cloak　away；　and　with　his　own　hands　he　pulled　up　a　chair　for　him　beside　the　vast　fire　which　Louis　maintained　summer　and　winter　since　his　return　from　the　mand　of　the　East　Indian　Station。
　〃Lady　Barbara　is　well；　I　trust？〃　he　asked。
　〃Very　well；　thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃And　Master　Hornblower？〃
　〃Very　well　too；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　was　mastering　his　shyness　rapidly。　He　sat　farther　back　in　his　chair　and　weled　the　heat　of　the　fire。　That　was　a　new　portrait　of　Collingwood　on　the　wall；　it　must　have　replaced　the　old　one　of　Lord　Barharn。　It　was　pleasant　to　note　the　red　ribbon　and　the　star　and　to　look　down　at　his　own　breast　and　to　see　that　he　wore　the　same　decoration。
　〃And　yet　you　left　domestic　bliss　at　the　first　moment　you　received　our　letter？〃
　〃Of　course；　sir。〃
　Hornblower　realized　that　perhaps　it　might　be　more　profitable　not　to　be　natural；　it　might　be　better　to　adopt　a　pose；　to　appear　reluctant　to　take　up　his　professional　duties；　or　to　make　it　look　as　if　he　were　making　a　great　personal　sacrifice　for　his　country；　but　for　the　life　of　him　he　could　not　do　it。　He　was　too　pleased　with　his　promotion；　too　full　of　curiosity　regarding　the　mission　the　Admiralty　had　in　mind　for　him。　Louis'　keen　eyes　were　studying　him　closely；　and　he　met　their　gaze　frankly。
　〃What　is　it　you　plan　for　me；　sir？〃　he　asked；　he　would　not　even　wait　for　Louis　to　make　the　first　move。
　〃The　Baltic；〃　said　Louis。
　So　that　was　it。　The　two　words　terminated　a　morning　of　wild　speculation；　tore　up　a　wide　cobweb　of　possibilities。　It　might　have　been　anywhere　in　the　world；　Java　or　Jamaica；　Cape　Horne　or　the　Cape　of　Good　Hope；　the　Indian　Ocean　or　the　Mediterranean；　anywhere　within　the　25；000…mile　circuit　of　the　world　where　the　British　flag　flew。　And　it　was　going　to　be　the　Baltic；　Hornblower　tried　to　sort　out　in　his　mind　what　he　knew　about　the　Baltic。　He　had　not　sailed　in　northern　waters　since　he　was　a　junior　lieutenant。
　〃Admiral　Keats　is　manding　there；　isn't　he？〃
　〃At　the　moment；　yes。　But　Saumarez　is　replacing　him。　His　orders　will　be　to　give　you　the　widest　latitude　of　discretion。〃
　That　was　a　curious　thing　to　say。　It　hinted　at　division　of　mand；　and　that　was　inherently　vicious。　Better　a　bad　mander…in…chief　than　a　divided　mand。　To　tell　a　subordinate　that　his　superior　was　under　orders　to　grant　him　wide　discretion　was　a　dangerous　thing　to　do；　unless　the　subordinate　was　a　man　of　superlative　loyalty　and　mon　sense。　Hornblower　gulped　at　that　moment　…　he　had　honestly　forgotten　temporarily　that　he　was　the　subordinate　under　consideration；　maybe　the　Admiralty　credited　him　with　'superlative　loyalty　and　mon　sense'。
　Louis　was　eyeing　him　curiously。
　〃Don't　you　want　to　hear　the　size　of　your　mand？〃　he　asked。
　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　answered　Hornblower；　but　he　did　not　mind　very　much。　The　fact　that　he　was　going　to　mand　something　was　much　more　important　than　what　he　was　going　to　mand。
　〃You'll　have　the　Nonsuch；　seventy…four；〃　said　Louis。　〃That　will　give　you　a　ship　of　force　should　you　need　one。　For　the　rest　you'll　have　all　the　small　stuff　we　can　scrape　together　for　you　…　Lotus　and　Raven；　sloops；　two　bomb…ketches；　Moth　and　Harvey；　and　the　cutter　Clam。　That's　all　so　far；　but　by　the　time　you　sail　we　might　have　some　more　ready　for　you。　We　want　you　to　be　ready　for　all　the　inshore　work　that　may　e　your　way。　There's　likely　to　be　plenty。〃
　〃I　expect　so；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Don't　know　whether　you'll　be　fighting　for　the　Russians　or　against　them；〃　mused　Louis。　〃Same　with　the　Swedes。　God　knows　what's　building　up；　up　there。　But　His　Nibs'll　tell　you　all　about　that。〃
　Hornblower　looked　a　question。
　〃Your　revered　brother…in…law；　the　most　noble　the　Marquis　Wellesley；　K。P。；　His　Britannic　Majesty's　Secretary　of　State　for　Foreign　Affairs。　We　call　him　His　Nibs　for　short。　We'll　walk　across　and　see　him　in　a　minute。　But　there's　something　else　important　to　settle。　Who　d'you　want　for　captain　in　Nonsuch？〃
　Hornblower　gasped　at　that。　This　was　patronage　on　a　grand　scale。　He　had　sometimes　appointed　midshipmen　and　surgeon's　mates；　a　parson　of　shady　record　had　once　hungrily　solicited　him　for　nomination　as　chaplain　in　his　ship；　but　to　have　a　say　in　the　appointment　of　a　captain　of　a　ship　of　the　line　was　something　infinitely　more　important　than　any　of　these。　There　were　120　captains　junior　to　Hornblower；　men　of　most　distinguished　record；　whose　achievements　were　talked　of　with　bated　bre