csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第44部分

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d　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　several　months　hoping　to　catch　the　Spaniards　should　they　e　out。　Jervis　had　to　detach　his　ships　to　Gibraltar　two　at　a　time　to　replenish　their　stores；　and　these　officers　were　from　the　two　ships　of　the　line　present　at　the　moment　in　Gibraltar。
　'Johnny　Jervis　would　say　amen　to　that；'　said　Sir　Hew。　'A　bumper　to　the　Dons　then；　gentlemen；　and　may　they　e　out　from　Cadiz。'
　The　ladies　left　them　then；　gathered　together　by　Lady　Dalrymple；　and　as　soon　as　it　was　decently　possible　Hornblower　made　his　excuses　and　slipped　away；　determined　not　to　be　heavy　with　wine　the　night　before　he　sailed　in　independent　mand。
　Maybe　the　prospect　of　the　ing　on　board　of　the　duchess　was　a　useful　counter…irritant；　and　saved　Hornblower　from　worrying　too　much　about　his　first　mand。　He　was　up　before　dawn…before　even　the　brief　Mediterranean　twilight　had　begun…to　see　that　his　precious　ship　was　in　condition　to　face　the　sea；　and　the　enemies　who　swarmed　upon　the　sea。　He　had　four　popgun　four…pounders　to　deal　with　those　enemies；　which　meant　that　he　was　safe　from　no　one；　his　was　the　weakest　vessel　at　sea；　for　the　smallest　trading　brig　carried　a　more　powerful　armament。　So　that　like　all　weak　creatures　his　only　safety　lay　in　flight…Hornblower　looked　aloft　in　the　half…light；　where　the　sails　would　be　set　on　which　so　much　might　depend。　He　went　over　the　watch　bill　with　his　two　watch…keeping　officers；　Midshipman　Hunter　and　Master's　Mate　Winyatt；　to　make　sure　that　every　man　of　his　crew　of　eleven　knew　his　duty。　Then　all　that　remained　was　to　put　on　his　smartest　seagoing　uniform；　try　to　eat　breakfast；　and　wait　for　the　duchess。
　She　came　early；　fortunately；　Their　Excellencies　had　had　to　rise　at　a　most　unpleasant　hour　to　see　her　off。　Mr　Hunter　reported　the　approach　of　the　governor's　launch　with　suppressed　excitement。
　'Thank　you；　Mr　Hunter；'　said　Hornblower　coldly…that　was　what　the　service　demanded；　even　though　not　so　many　weeks　before　they　had　been　playing　follow…my…leader　through　the　Indefatigable's　rigging　together。
　The　launch　swirled　alongside；　and　two　neatly　dressed　seamen　hooked　on　the　ladder。　Le　Rêve　had　such　a　small　freeboard　that　boarding　her　presented　no　problem　even　for　ladies。　The　governor　stepped　on　board　to　the　twittering　of　the　only　two　pipes　Le　Rêve　could　muster；　and　Lady　Dalrymple　followed　him。　Then　came　the　duchess；　and　the　duchess's　panion；　the　latter　was　a　younger　woman；　as　beautiful　as　the　duchess　must　once　have　been。　A　couple　of　aides…de…camp　followed；　and　by　that　time　the　minute　deck　of　Le　Rêve　was　positively　crowded；　so　that　there　was　no　room　left　to　bring　up　the　duchess's　baggage。
　'Let　us　show　you　your　quarters；　Your　Grace；'　said　the　governor。
　Lady　Dalrymple　squawked　her　sympathy　at　sight　of　the　minute　cabin；　which　the　two　cots　almost　filled；　and　every　one's　head；　inevitably；　bumped　against　the　deck…beam　above。　'We　shall　live　through　it；'　said　the　duchess　stoically；　'an'　that's　more　than　many　a　man　makin'　a　little　trip　to　Tyburn　could　say。'
　One　of　the　aides…de…camp　produced　a　last　minute　packet　of　despatches　and　demanded　Hornblower's　signature　on　the　receipt；　the　last　farewells　were　said；　and　Sir　Hew　and　Lady　Dalrymple　went　down　the　side　again　to　the　twittering　of　the　pipes。
　'Man　the　windlass！'　bellowed　Hornblower　the　moment　the　launch's　crew　bent　to　their　oars。
　A　few　seconds'　lusty　work　brought　Le　Rêve　up　to　her　anchor。
　'Anchor's　aweigh；　sir；'　reported　Winyatt。
　'Jib　halliards！'　shouted　Hornblower。　'Mains'l　halliards！'
　Le　Rêve　came　round　before　the　wind　as　her　sails　were　set　and　her　rudder　took　a　grip　on　the　water。　Everyone　was　so　busy　catting　the　anchor　and　setting　sail　that　it　was　Hornblower　himself　who　dipped　his　colours　in　salute　as　Le　Rêve　crept　out　beyond　the　mole　before　the　gentle　south…easter；　and　dipped　her　nose　to　the　first　of　the　big　Atlantic　rollers　ing　in　through　the　Gut。　Through　the　skylight　beside　him　he　heard　a　clatter　and　a　wail；　as　something　fell　in　the　cabin　with　that　first　roll；　but　he　could　spare　no　attention　for　the　woman　below。　He　had　the　glass　to　his　eye　now；　training　it　first　on　Algeciras　and　then　upon　Tarifa…some　well…manned　privateer　or　ship　of　war　might　easily　dash　out　to　snap　up　such　a　defenceless　prey　as　Le　Rêve。　He　could　not　relax　while　the　forenoon　watch　wore　on。　They　rounded　Cape　Marroqui　and　he　set　a　course　for　St　Vincent；　and　then　the　mountains　of　Southern　Spain　began　to　sink　below　the　horizon。　Cape　Trafalgar　was　just　visible　on　the　starboard　bow　when　at　last　he　shut　the　telescope　and　began　to　wonder　about　dinner；　it　was　pleasant　to　be　captain　of　his　own　ship　and　to　be　able　to　order　dinner　when　he　chose。　His　aching　legs　told　him　he　had　been　on　his　feet　too　long…eleven　continuous　hours；　if　the　future　brought　him　many　independent　mands　he　would　wear　himself　out　by　this　sort　of　behaviour。
　Down　below　he　relaxed　gratefully　on　the　locker；　and　sent　the　cook　to　knock　at　the　duchess's　cabin　door　to　ask　with　his　pliments　if　all　was　well；　he　heard　the　duchess's　sharp　voice　saying　that　they　needed　nothing；　not　even　dinner。　Hornblower　philosophically　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　ate　his　dinner　with　a　young　man's　appetite。　He　went　on　deck　again　as　night　closed　in　upon　them；　Winyatt　had　the　watch。
　'It's　ing　up　thick；　sir；'　he　said。
　So　it　was。　The　sun　was　invisible　on　the　horizon；　engulfed　in　watery　mist。　It　was　the　price　he　had　to　pay　for　a　fair　wind；　he　knew；　in　the　winter　months　in　these　latitudes　there　was　always　likely　to　be　fog　where　the　cool　land　breeze　reached　the　Atlantic。
　'It'll　be　thicker　still　by　morning；'　he　said　gloomily；　and　revised　his　night　orders；　setting　a　course　due　west　instead　of　west　by　north　as　he　originally　intended。　He　wanted　to　make　certain　of　keeping　clear　of　Cape　St　Vincent　in　the　event　of　fog。
　That　was　one　of　those　minute　trifles　which　may　affect　a　man's　whole　after　life…Hornblower　had　plenty　of　time　later　to　reflect　on　what　might　have　happened　had　he　not　ordered　that　alteration　of　course。　During　the　night　he　was　often　on　deck；　peering　through　the　increasing　mist；　but　at　the　time　when　the　crisis　came　he　was　down　below　snatching　a　little　sleep。　What　woke　him　was　a　seaman　shaking　his　shoulder　violently。
　'Please；　sir。　Please；　sir。　Mr　Hunter　sent　me。　Please；　sir