csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第43部分

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：　he　had　advised　Tabling　to　arm　himself；　and　yet　he　had　clean　forgotten　about　his　own　need　for　weapons。　Bu　it　was　too　late　now　to　try　to　remedy　that。　Someone　in　the　lugger　hailed　in　Spanish；　and　Hornblower　spread　his　hand'　in　a　show　of　inprehension。　Now　they　were　alongside。
　'e　on；　men！'　shouted　Hornblower。
　He　ran　across　the　superstructure　and　with　a　gulp　he　flung　himself　across　the　gap　at　the　officer　in　the　shrouds。　He　gulped　again　as　he　went　through　the　air；　he　fell　with　all　his　weight　or　the　unfortunate　man；　clasped　him　round　the　shoulders；　and　fell　with　him　to　the　deck。　There　were　shouts　and　yells　behind　him　as　the　Caroline　spewed　up　her　crew　into　the　lugger。　A　rush　of　feet；　a　clatter　and　a　clash。　Hornblower　got　to　his　feet　empty…handed。　Maxwell　was　just　striking　down　a　man　with　his　cutlass。　Tapling　was　heading　a　rush　forward　into　the　bows；　waving　a　cutlass　and　yelling　like　a　madman。　Then　it　was　all　over；　the　astonished　Spaniards　were　unable　to　lift　a　hand　in　their　own　defence。
　So　it　came　about　that　on　the　twenty…second　day　of　her　quarantine　the　Caroline　came　into　Gibraltar　Bay　with　a　captured　guarda…costa　lugger　under　her　lee。　A　thick　barn…yard　stench　trailed　with　her；　too；　but　at　least；　when　Hornblower　went　on　board　the　Indefatigable　to　make　his　report；　he　had　a　suitable　reply　ready　for　Mr　Midshipman　Bracegirdle。
　'Hullo；　Noah；　how　are　Shem　and　Ham？'　asked　Mr　Bracegirdle。
　'Shem　and　Ham　have　taken　a　prize；'　said　Hornblower。　'I　regret　that　Mr　Bracegirdle　can't　say　the　same。'
　But　the　Chief　missary　of　the　squadron；　when　Hornblower　reported　to　him；　had　a　ment　to　which　even　Hornblower　was　unable　to　make　a　reply。
　'Do　you　mean　to　tell　me；　Mr　Hornblower；'　said　the　Chief　missary；　'that　you　allowed　your　men　to　eat　fresh　beef？　A　bullock　a　day　for　your　eighteen　men？　There　must　have　been　plenty　of　ship's　provisions　on　board。　That　was　wanton　extravagance；　Mr　Hornblower；　I'm　surprised　at　you。'
　
　
　
　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