csf.thecommodore-第19部分

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in　cap　with　a　red　plume；　a　bristling　red　moustache；　a　scarlet　tunic；　a　red　sash；　a　profusion　of　gold　lace；　blue　pantaloons　with　a　red　stripe；　high　boots；　a　sword　whose　golden　hilt　glowed　strangely　in　the　fading　light；　that　was　the　uniform　of　the　Guards；　surely。　The　wearer　of　the　uniform　was　undersized　for　a　guardsman；　but　he　certainly　knew　his　ceremonial；　his　hand　was　at　the　salute　to　the　quarter…deck　as　he　came　in　through　the　entry…port；　and　then　he　strode　forward　on　short　legs　and　brought　his　heels　together　in　a　smart　Guards　salute　to　Hornblower。
　〃Good　evening；　sir；〃　he　said。　〃You　are　Captain　Sir　Horatio　Hornblower？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃May　I　introduce　myself？　I　am　Colonel　Lord　Wychwood；　of　the　First　Guards。〃
　〃Good　evening；〃　said　Hornblower　coolly。　As　modore　he　was　decidedly　senior　to　a　Colonel；　and　he　could　afford　to　be　cool　while　waiting　on　events。　He　supposed　that　he　would　soon　hear　the　explanation　of　this　arrival　of　a　Colonel　of　the　Grenadier　Guards　in　full　regimentals　in　the　middle　of　the　Baltic　Sea。
　〃I　have　despatches；〃　said　Lord　Wychwood；　fumbling　in　the　breast　of　his　tunic；　〃from　our　Ambassador　at　Stockholm　for　you；　sir。〃
　〃Let　us　go　to　my　cabin；　sir；〃　said　Hornblower。　He　darted　a　glance　at　Basse。
　〃You　have　already　made　the　acquaintance　of　Baron　Basse；　I　understand？　He　has　messages　for　you；　too。〃
　〃Then　perhaps　the　Baron　will　be　kind　enough　to　e　below　as　well。　If　you　gentlemen　will　be　kind　enough　to　allow　me　to　precede　you；　I　will　show　the　way。〃
　Braun　interpreted　ceremoniously　as　Hornblower　headed　the　procession。　In　the　darkened　cabin　Brown　hastened　to　bring　lamps　and　brought　forward　chairs；　Wychwood　lowered　himself　into　his　with　all　the　caution　demanded　by　his　tight　overalls。
　〃You've　heard　what　Boney's　done？〃　he　began。
　〃I　have　heard　nothing　recently。〃
　〃He　sent　50；000　troops　into　Swedish　Pomerania　the　moment　he　got　the　news　of　what　you　did　off　Stralsund。〃
　〃Indeed？〃
　〃They　acted　in　their　usual　style。　Vandamme　was　in　mand。　He　began　by　fining　the　municipality　of　Stralsund　100；000　francs　for　not　greeting　his　arrival　with　the　ringing　of　the　church　bells。　He　interrupted　the　service　at　the　church　of　the　Holy　Ghost　so　as　to　lay　hold　of　the　munion　plate。　He　seized　the　Governor…General　and　threw　him　into　gaol。　The　troops　were　out　of　hand　because　the　garrison　of　Rügen　tried　to　oppose　their　crossing。　There　was　looting　and　murder　and　rape　all　through　Rügen。　The　Baron　here　escaped　in　a　fishing…boat。　All　the　other　officials　and　the　troops　are　prisoners。〃
　〃So　Boney　is　at　war　with　Sweden　now？〃
　Wychwood　shrugged　his　shoulders；　everyone　in　the　Baltic　seemed　to　shrug　shoulders　when　it　was　a　matter　of　having　to　make　a　downright　statement　regarding　peace　and　war。
　〃The　Baron　here　can　tell　you　about　that；〃　said　Wychwood。　They　turned　their　glances　towards　the　Baron；　who　began　a　voluble　explanation　in　Swedish；　Braun；　standing　against　the　bulkhead；　translated。
　〃He　says　that　the　question　of　peace　and　war　lies　with　the　Crown　Prince；　His　Royal　Highness　Charles　John；　who　used　to　be　known　as　Marshal　Bernadotte。　His　Royal　Highness　is　not　in　Sweden　at　the　moment。　He　is　visiting　the　Tsar　in　Russia。〃
　〃I　expect　that's　what　these　despatches　I　have　for　you　are　about；　sir；〃　said　Wychwood。　He　produced　a　large　canvas　envelope；　heavily　sealed；　and　handed　it　over。　Hornblower　tore　it　open　and　read　the　contents。
　
　Embassy　of　His　Britannic　Majesty　at　Stockholm
　May　20；　1812
　SIR；
　The　bearer　of　this　despatch；　Colonel　Lord　Wychwood；　First　Guards；　will　inform　you　as　to　the　political　situation　here。　It　is　to　be　hoped　that　Bonaparte's　invasion　of　Swedish　Pomerania　will　bring　about　a　declaration　of　war　on　the　part　of　the　Swedish　government。　It　is　therefore　necessary　that　all　possible　aid　should　be　given　to　Swedish　officials　who　wish　to　municate　with　H。R。H。　the　Crown　Prince。　You　are　therefore　directed　and　required　to　use　all　diligence　and　despatch　to　escort　or　convey　any　such　officials　on　their　way　to　Russia。　You　are　further　directed　and　required　to　make　all　use　of　this　opportunity　to　enable　Lord　Wychwood　to　open　munication　with　the　Russian　government　so　as　to　assure　H。I。M。　the　Tsar　of　the　full　support　of　His　Majesty's　forces　by　land　and　sea　in　the　event　of　war　between　H。　I。　M。　and　the　French　government。　You　will　further　make　all　use　of　any　opportunity　which　may　present　itself　to　you　to　further　good　relations　between　H。M。　and　H。I。M。
　Your　obd't　servant；
　H。　L。　MERRY；　H。B。M。's　Ambassador
　　to　the　Court　of　Stockholm
　CAPTAIN　SIR　HORATIO　HORNBLOWER；　K。B。
　modore　manding　the　British　Squadron　in　the　Baltic
　
　Hornblower　read　the　orders　through　twice；　carefully。　There　was　an　important　decision　to　be　made。　Merry　had　no　business　giving　orders；　and　especially　had　no　business　to　give　orders　in　the　explicit　'directed　and　required'　wording　which　was　the　cherished　prerogative　of　his　naval　superiors。　An　Ambassador　was　an　important　official　…　to　a　naval　officer　in　foreign　waters　the　most　important　official　after　the　Lords　of　Admiralty　…　but　he　could　only　request　and　advise；　not　give　orders。　If　Hornblower　should　follow　Merry's　instructions　and　the　matter　turn　out　ill　he　would　have　no　excuse　to　plead　to　the　Admiralty。　Yet　on　the　other　hand　Hornblower　knew　only　too　well　that　if　he　were　to　ignore　Merry's　letter　there　would　be　bitter　plaints　sent　to　London。
　Hornblower　recalled　his　Admiralty　orders　to　himself；　they　gave　him　wide　discretion　as　to　how　he　should　behave　towards　the　northern　powers。　Merry's　letter　relieved　him　of　no　responsibility。　He　could　allow　Wychwood　and　Basse　to　proceed　in　the　Swedish　brig；　or　he　could　convey　them　himself；　the　point　at　issue　was　whether　the　news　of　Bonaparte's　latest　aggression　should　be　conveyed　by　a　British　squadron　or　not。　Bearers　of　bad　tidings　were　always　unpopular　…　a　ridiculous　detail　to　have　to　bear　in　mind；　but　an　important　one。　The　two　potentates　might　feel　exasperated　at　being　reminded　of　the　meddling　British　Navy；　bringing　trouble　to　everyone。　On　the　other　hand；　the　presence　of　a　British　squadron　far　up　the　Baltic；　at　the　very　gates　of　St　Petersburg；　might　be　a　salutary　reminder　of　the　length　of　England's　arm。　Submission　to　Bonaparte　or　the　part　of　Sweden　and　Russia　must　mean　war；　real　actual　war　with　England　this　time；　Bonaparte　would　be　satisfied　with　nothing　less。　The　sight　of　British　topsails　on　the　horizon；　the　knowledge　that　war　would　mean　instant　blockade；　instant　capture　of　every　ship　that　ventured　out；　constant　harassing　of　all　their　shores；　might　be　a　powerful　argument　at　their　councils。　Bonaparte　might　be　at　their　frontiers；　but　England　would　be　at　their　doors。　Hornblower　made　his　decision。
　〃Gentlemen；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　it　is　my　duty　to　convey　you　to　Russia　in　this　squadron。　I　can　offer　you　the　hospitality　of　this　ship；　if　you　would　be　kind　enough　to　accept　it。〃
　
　CHAPTER　ELEVEN
　
　Despite　the　fact　that　he　was　a　peer　and　a　guardsman；　despite　his　little　red　moustache　and　his　funny　pop…eyes　and　his　ludicrous　appearance　in　uniform；　Wychwood　was　a　shrewd　and　experienced　man　of　the　world。　At　thirty…five　he　had　visited　two…thirds　of　the　Courts　of　Europe；　he　was　familiar　with　their　intrigues；　knew　their　weaknesses　and　their　strengths；　the　military　power　of　which　they　could　dispose；　their　prejudices　and　their　traditions。　He　sat　（at　Hornblower's　invitation）　in　Hornblower's　cabin　while　a　brisk　westerly　wind　sent　the　squadron　rolling　and　pitching　up　the　Baltic。　Basse　was　incapacitated　in　his　berth　with　seasickness；　so　that　they　were　not　embarrassed　by　his　presence　…　Wychwood's　cheeks　were　a　little　pale　as　well；　and　his　manner　occasionally　hinted　at　an　inward　preoccupation；　but　he　controlled　himself　manfully。
　〃Boney's　weakness；〃　said　Wychwood；　〃is　that　he　thinks　all　the　opposition　in　the　world　can　be　dissolved　by　force。　Often　he's　right；　of　course；　you　have　only　to　look　back　at　his　career　to　see　that。　But　sometimes　he　is　wrong。　People　would　rather　fight　…　would　rather　die　…　than　be　slaves　to　his　will　any　longer。〃
　〃Spain　showed　that；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Yes。　But　with　Russia　it　still　may　be　different。　Russia　is　the　Tsar；　much　more　definitely　than　Spain　was　the　Bourbon　monarchy。　If　Alexander　chooses　to　submit　to　Boney's　threats；　Russia　will　submit。　Alexander's　swallowed　insults　enough　already。〃
　〃He's　swallowed　other　things　besides　insults；〃　said　Hornblower　dryly。
　〃Finland；　you　mean？　That's　perfectly　true。　And　all　the　other　Baltic　provinces；　Lithuania　and　Courland　and　so　on。　You　know　better　than　I　do　how　much　difference　that　makes　to　the　security　of　St　Petersburg　…　I　find　it　hard　to　blame　him　for　it。　At　home；　of　course；　his　attack　on　Finland　roused　a　good　deal　of　feeling。　I　hope　they　forget　it　if　he　bees　our　ally。〃
　〃And　what　are　the　chances　of　that？〃
　〃God　knows。　If　he　can　be　sure　of　the　Swedish　alliance　he　may　fight。　And　that　depends　on　whether　Bernadotte　is　willing　to　submit　to　having　Pomerania　taken　away　from　him。〃
　〃Bonaparte　made　a　false　step　there；〃　said　Hornblower。
　〃Yes；　by　God！　The　British　colours　are　like　a　red　rag　to　a　bull　to　him。　You　have　only　to　show　them　to　get　him　to　charge。　The　way　you　destroyed　that　ship　…　what　was　her　name？　…　the　Blanchefleur　under　his　very　nose　must　have　driven　him　crazy。　If　anything　makes　the　Swedes　fight；　it'll　be　that。〃
　〃Let's　hope　it　does；〃　said　Hornblower；　decidedly　forted。
　He　knew　he　had　taken　a　bold　step　when　he　went　in　to　destroy　the　Blanchefleur；　if　the　subsequent　political　repercussions　should　be　unfavourable　he　might　well　be　called　to　account。　His　only　justification　would　be　the　final　event；　a　more　cautious　man　would　have　held　back　and　contented　himself　with　keeping　the　privateer　under　observation。　Probably　that　would　have　resulted　in　her　slipping　clean　away　the　first　foggy　night；　to　resume　her　ravages　among　British　shipping；　but　no　man　could　be　held　responsible　for　fog。　And　if　Sweden　became　an　active　enemy　all　England　would　clamour　for　the　head　of　the　officer　they　deemed　responsible。　Yet　e　what　might　he　could　not　but　feel　that　he　had　taken　the　best　course　in　proving　that　England　had　the　power　to　strike　and　would　not　hesitate　to　use　it。　There　were　few　occasions　in　history　when　timidity　was　wise。
　They　were　bringing　further　news　to　St　Petersburg；　too。　Wellington　was　on　the　offensive　in　Spain；　in　two　desperate　strokes　he　had　cleared　his　front　by　storming　Ciudad　Rodrigo　and　Badajoz；　and　now　was　ready　to　strike　into　the　heart　of　the　Peninsula。　The　knowledge　that　a　large　part　of　Bonaparte's　army　was　hotly　engaged　in　the　South　might　bring　firmness　to　the　councils　of　the　North。
　His　brother…in…law　was　an　Earl　now　…　another　victory　or　two　would　make　him　a　Duke；　reflected　Hornblower。　Barbara　would　be　proud　of　him；　and　to　Hornblower　that　was　another　reason　for　him　to　dread　failure　for　himself；　Barbara　had　a　high　standard　of　parison。　But　she　would　understand。　She　would　know　how　high　were　the　stakes　he　was　playing　for　in　the　Baltic　…　as　high　as　those　her　brother　was　playing　for　in　Spain；　she　would　know　what　moral　courage　was　needed　to　make　the　kind　of　decisions　he　had　made。　She　would　be　considerate；　and　at　that　moment　Hornblower　told　himself　that　he　did　not　want　his　wife　to　have　to　be　considerate　on　his　account。　The　thought　revolted　him；　drove　him　to　make　his　excuses　to　Wychwood　and　plunge　out　on　dec