csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第39部分

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　CHAPTER　TEN　…　THE　DUCHESS　AND　THE　DEVIL
　Acting…Lieutenant　Hornblower　was　bringing　the　sloop　Le　Rêve；　prize　of　H。M。S。　Indefatigable；　to　anchor　in　Gibraltar　Bay。　He　was　nervous；　if　anyone　had　asked　him　if　he　thought　that　all　the　telescopes　in　the　Mediterranean　Fleet　were　trained　upon　him　he　would　have　laughed　at　the　fantastic　suggestion；　but　he　felt　as　if　they　were。　Nobody　ever　gauged　more　cautiously　the　strength　of　the　gentle　following　breeze；　or　estimated　more　anxiously　the　distances　between　the　big　anchored　ships　of　the　line；　or　calculated　more　carefully　the　space　Le　Rêve　would　need　to　swing　at　her　anchor。　Jackson；　his　petty　officer；　was　standing　forward　awaiting　the　order　to　take　in　the　jib；　and　he　acted　quickly　at　Hornblower's　hail。
　'Helm…a…lee；'　said　Hornblower　next；　and　Le　Rêve　rounded　into　the　wind。　'Brail　up！'
　Le　Rêve　crept　forward；　her　momentum　diminishing　as　the　wind　took　her　way　off　her。
　'Let　go！'
　The　cable　growled　a　protest　as　the　anchor　took　it　out　through　the　hawsehole…that　wele　splash　of　the　anchor；　telling　of　the　journey's　end。　Hornblower　watched　carefully　while　Le　Rêve　took　up　on　her　cable；　and　then　relaxed　a　little。　He　had　brought　the　prize　safely　in。　The　modore…Captain　Sir　Edward　Pellew　of　H。M。S。　Indefatigable…had　clearly　not　yet　returned；　so　that　it　was　Hornblower's　duty　to　report　to　the　port　admiral。
　'Get　the　boat　hoisted　out；'　he　ordered；　and　then；　remembering　his　humanitarian　duty；　'and　you　can　let　the　prisoners　up　on　deck。'
　They　had　been　battened　down　below　for　the　last　forty…eight　hours；　because　the　fear　of　a　recapture　was　the　nightmare　of　every　prizemaster。　But　here　in　the　Bay　with　the　Mediterranean　fleet　all　round　that　danger　was　at　an　end。　Two　hands　at　the　oars　of　the　gig　sent　her　skimming　over　the　water；　and　in　ten　minutes　Hornblower　was　reporting　his　arrival　to　the　admiral。
　'You　say　she　shows　a　fair　turn　of　speed？'　said　the　latter；　looking　over　at　the　prize。
　'Yes；　sir。　And　she's　handy　enough；'　said　Hornblower。
　'I'll　purchase　her　into　the　service。　Never　enough　despatch　vessels；'　mused　the　Admiral。
　Even　with　that　hint　it　was　a　pleasant　surprise　to　Hornblower　when　he　received　heavily　sealed　official　orders　and；　opening　them；　read　that　'you　are　hereby　requested　and　required'　to　take　H。M。　sloop　Le　Rêve　under　his　mand　and　to　proceed　'with　the　utmost　expedition'　to　Plymouth　as　soon　as　the　despatches　destined　for　England　should　be　put　in　his　charge。　It　was　an　independent　mand；　it　was　a　chance　of　seeing　England　again　（it　was　three　years　since　Hornblower　had　last　set　foot　on　the　English　shore）　and　it　was　a　high　professional　pliment。　But　there　was　another　letter；　delivered　at　the　same　moment；　which　Hornblower　read　with　less　elation。
　'Their　Excellencies；　Major…General　Sir　Hew　and　Lady　Dalrymple；　request　the　pleasure　of　Acting…Lieutenant　Horatio　Hornblower's　pany　at　dinner　to…day；　at　three　o'clock；　at　Government　House。'
　It　might　be　a　pleasure　to　dine　with　the　Governor　of　Gibraltar　and　his　lady；　but　it　was　only　a　mixed　pleasure　at　best　for　an　acting…lieutenant　with　a　single　sea　chest；　faced　with　the　need　to　dress　himself　suitably　for　such　a　function。　Yet　it　was　hardly　possible　for　a　young　man　to　walk　up　to　Government　House　from　the　landing　slip　without　a　thrill　of　excitement；　especially　as　his　friend　Mr　Midshipman　Bracegirdle；　who　came　from　a　wealthy　family　and　had　a　handsome　allowance；　had　lent　him　a　pair　of　the　finest　white　stockings　of　China　silk…Bracegirdle's　calves　were　plump；　and　Hornblower's　were　skinny；　but　that　difficulty　had　been　artistically　circumvented。　Two　small　pads　of　oakum；　some　strips　of　sticking　plaster　from　the　surgeon's　stores；　and　Hornblower　now　had　a　couple　of　legs　of　which　no　one　need　be　ashamed。　He　could　put　his　left　leg　forward　to　make　his　bow　without　any　fear　of　wrinkles　in　his　stockings；　and　sublimely　conscious；　as　Bracegirdle　said；　of　a　leg　of　which　any　gentleman　would　be　proud。
　At　Government　House　the　usual　polished　and　languid　aide…de…camp　took　charge　of　Hornblower　and　led　him　forward。　He　made　his　bow　to　Sir　Hew；　a　red…faced　and　fussy　old　gentleman；　and　to　Lady　Dalrymple；　a　red…faced　and　fussy　old　lady。
　'Mr　Hornblower；'　said　the　latter；　'I　must　present　you…Your　Grace；　this　is　Mr　Hornblower；　the　new　captain　of　Le　Rêve。　Her　Grace　the　Duchess　of　Wharfedale。'
　A　duchess；　no　less！　Hornblower　poked　forward　his　padded　leg；　pointed　his　toe；　laid　his　hand　on　his　heart　and　bowed　with　all　the　depth　the　tightness　of　his　breeches　allowed…he　had　still　been　growing　when　he　bought　them　on　joining　the　Indefatigable。　Bold　blue　eyes；　and　a　once　beautiful　middle…aged　face。
　'So　this　'ere's　the　feller　in　question？'　said　the　duchess。　'Matilda；　my　dear；　are　you　going　to　hentrust　me　to　a　hinfant　in　harms？'
　The　startling　vulgarity　of　the　accent　took　Hornblower's　breath　away。　He　had　been　ready　for　almost　anything　except　that　a　superbly　dressed　duchess　should　speak　in　the　accent　of　Seven　Dials。　He　raised　his　eyes　to　stare；　while　forgetting　to　straighten　himself　up；　standing　with　his　chin　poked　forward　and　his　hand　still　on　his　heart。
　'You　look　like　a　gander　on　a　green；'　said　the　duchess。　'I　hexpects　you　to　'iss　hany　moment。'
　She　stuck　her　own　chin　out　and　swung　from　side　to　side　with　her　hands　on　her　knees　in　a　perfect　imitation　of　a　belligerent　goose；　apparently　with　so　close　a　resemblance　to　Hornblower　as　well　as　to　excite　a　roar　of　laughter　from　the　other　guests。　Hornblower　stood　in　blushing　confusion。
　'Don't　be　'ard　on　the　young　feller。'　said　the　duchess；　ing　to　his　defence　and　patting　him　on　the　shoulder。　〃E's　only　young；　en'　thet's　nothink　to　be　ashamed　of。　Somethink　to　be　prard　of；　for　thet　matter；　to　be　trusted　with　a　ship　at　thet　hage。'
　It　was　lucky　that　the　announcement　of　dinner　came　to　save　Hornblower　from　the　further　confusion　into　which　this　kindly　remark　had　thrown　him。　Hornblower　naturally　found　himself　with　the　riff…raff；　the　ragtag　and　bobtail　of　the　middle　of　the　table　along　with　the　other　junior　officers…Sir　Hew　sat　at　one　end　with　the　duchess；　while　Lady　Dalrymple　sat　with　a　modore　at　the　other。　Moreover；　there　were　not　nearly　as　many　women　as　men；　that　was　only　to　be　expected；　as　Gibraltar　was；　technically　at　least；　a　beleaguered　fortress。　So　Hornblower　had　no　woman　on　either　side　of　him；　at　his　right　sat　the　young　aide…de…camp　who　had　first　taken　him　in　charge。
　'Your　health；　Your　Grace；'　said　the　modore；　looking　down　the　length　of　the　table　and　raising　his　glass。
　'Thank'ee；'　replied　the　duchess。　'Just　in　time　to　save　my　life。　I　was　wonderin'　'oo'd　e　to　my　rescue。'
　She　raised　her　brimming　glass　to　her　lips　and　when　she　put　it　down　again　it　was　empty。
　'A　jolly　boon　panion　you　are　going　to　have；'　said　the　aide…de…camp　to　Hornblower。
　'How　is　she　going　to　be　my　panion？'　asked　Hornblower；　quite　bewildered。
　The　aide…de…camp　looked　at　him　pityingly。
　'So　you　have　not　been　informed？'　he　asked。　'As　always　the　man　most　concerned　is　the　last　to　know。　When　you　sail　with　your　despatches　to…morrow　you　will　have　the　honour　of　bearing　Her　Grace　with　you　to　England。'
　'God　bless　my　soul；'　said　Hornblower。
　'Let's　hope　He　does；'　said　the　aide…de…camp　piously；　nosing　his　wine。　'Poor　stuff　this　sweet　Malaga　is。　Old　Hare　bought　a　job　lot　in　'95；　and　every　governor　since　then　seems　to　think　it's　his　duty　to　use　it　up。'
　'But　who　is　she？'　asked　Hornblower
　'Her　Grace　the　Duchess　of　Wharfedale；'　replied　the　aide…de…camp。　'Did　you　not　hear　Lady　Dalrymple's　introduction？'
　'But　she　doesn't　talk　like　a　duchess；'　protested　Hornblower。
　'No。　The　old　duke　was　in　his　dotage　when　he　married　her。　She　was　an　innkeeper's　widow；　so　her　friends　say。　You　can　imagine；　if　you　like；　what　her　enemies　say。'
　'But　what　is　she　doing　here？'　went　on　Hornblower。
　'She　is　on　her　way　back　to　England。　She　was　at　Florence　when　the　French　marched　in；　I　understand。　She　reached　Leghorn；　and　bribed　a　coaster　to　bring　her　here。　She　asked　Sir　Hew　to　find　her　a　passage；　and　Sir　Hew　asked　the　Admiral…Sir　Hew　would　ask　anyone　for　anything　on　behalf　of　a　duchess；　even　one　said　by　her　friends　to　be　an　innkeeper's　widow。
　'I　see；'　said　Hornblower。
　There　was　a　burst　of　merriment　from　the　head　of　the　table；　and　the　duchess　was　prodding　the　governor's　scarlet…coated　ribs　with　the　handle　of　her　knife；　as　if　to　make　sure　he　saw　the　joke。
　'Maybe　you　will　not　lack　for　mirth　on　your　homeward　voyage；'　said　the　aide…de…camp。
　Just　then　a　smoking　sirloin　of　beef　was　put　down　in　front　of　Hornblower；　and　all　his　other　worries　vanished　before　the　necessity　of　carving　it　and　remembering　his　manners。　He　took　the　carving　knife　and　fork　gingerly　in　his　hands　and　glanced　round　at　the　pany。
　'May　I　help　you　to　some　of　this　beef；　Your　Grace？　Madam？　Sir？　Well　done　or　underdone；　sir？　A　little　of　the　brown　fat？'
　In　the　hot　room　the　sweat　ran　down　his　face　as　he　wrestled　with　the　joint；　he　was　fortunate　that　most　of　the　guests　desired　helpings　from　the　other　removes　so　that　he　had　little　carving　to　do。　He　put　a　couple　of　haggled　slices　on　his　own　plate　as　the　simplest　way　of　concealing　the　worst　results　of　his　own　handiwork。
　'Beef　from　Tetuan；'　sniffed　the　aide…de…camp。　'Tough　and　stringy。'
　That　was　all　very　well　for　a　governor's　aide…de…camp…he　could　not　guess　how　delicious　was　this　food　to　a　young　naval　officer　fresh　from　beating　about　at　sea　in　an　over…crowded　frigate。　Even　the　thought　of　having　to　act　as　host　to　a　duchess　could　not　entirely　spoil　Hornblower's　appetite。　And　the　final　dishes；　the　meringues　and　macaroons；　the　custards　and　the　fruits；　were　ecstasy　for　a　young　man　whose　last　pudding　had　been　currant　duff　last　Sunday。
　'Those　sweet　things　spoil　a　man's　palate；'　said　the　aide…de…camp…much　Hornblower　cared。
　They　were　drinking　formal　toasts　now。　Hornblower　stood　for　the　King　and　the　royal　family；　and　raised　his　glass　for　the　duchess。
　'And　now　for　the　enemy；'　said　Sir　Hew；　'may　their　treasure　galleons　try　to　cross　the　Atlantic。'
　'A　supplement　to　that；　Sir　Hew；'　said　the　modore　at　the　other　end；　'may　the　Dons　make　up　their　minds　to　leave　Cadiz。'
　There　was　a　growl　almost　like　wild　animals　from　round　the　table。　Most　of　the　naval　officers　present　were　from　Jervis'　Mediterranean　squadron　which　had　beaten　about　in　the　Atlantic　for　the　past　sev