csf.thecommodore-第33部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
an order。
〃That is caviare；〃 she explained to him； 〃and this is vodka； the drink of the people； but I think you will find that the two are admirably suited to each other。〃
The Countess was right。 The grey； unappetizing…looking stuff was perfectly delicious。 Hornblower sipped cautiously at the vodka； and in his present highly…strung condition hardly noticed the fierce bite of the liquor； but there was no doubt that vodka and caviare blended together exquisitely。 He felt the warm glow of the alcohol inside him； and realized that he was desperately hungry。 The buffet was covered with foods of all kinds； some being kept warm in chafing dishes； some cold； under the tutelage of the Countess； Hornblower went a fair way towards tackling them all。 There was a dish apparently of stewed mushrooms that was excellent； slices of smoked fish； an unidentifiable salad； some varieties of cheese； eggs both hot and cold； a sort of ragout of pork。 There were other liquors as well； and Hornblower ate and drank with his spirits rising momentarily； playing his part in the conversation and feeling more and more warmly grateful to the Countess。 It might be a queer way to have dinner； but Hornblower thought he had never tasted such delicious food。 His head began to whirl with the liquor； he knew that danger signal of old； although this time he did not resent it quite so bitterly as usual； and he checked himself in the midst of a laugh in time not to be too unrestrained。 Laughter； chatter； and bright lights； this was one of the jolliest parties he had ever attended … he felt as if it had been someone else who had slashed Braun's wrist open with a sword an hour ago。 Hornblower replaced his lovely porcelain plate on the buffet； among the gold dishes； and wiped his mouth with one of the silken napkins that lay there。 He was fortably replete； with the gratifying sensation of having eaten just too much and having drunk just enough； he supposed coffee would be served soon； and a cup of coffee was all he needed to plete his internal gratification。
〃I have dined extremely well；〃 he said to the Countess。
The most remarkable expression passed over the Countess's face。 Her eyebrows rose； and she opened her mouth to say something and then shut it again。 She was smiling and puzzled and distressed all at the same time。 She again started to speak； but her words were cut short by the ceremonial opening of yet another pair of doors from which twenty or thirty footmen emerged to form an avenue leading into the next room。 Hornblower became conscious that the royal party had risen from their chairs and were falling into formation； and the plete cessation of conversation told Hornblower that some specially solemn moment had arrived。 Couples were moving about the room like ships jockeying for position。 The Countess laid her hand on his arm with a gentle pressure as if to lead him。 By George； a procession was forming behind the royal party！ There went the Persian Ambassador； a smiling girl on his arm。 Hornblower just had time to lead his own partner forward to join the procession next； and after two or three more couples had joined behind him the procession began to move forward； its tail being steadily lengthened as it went。 Hornblower kept his eyes on the Persian Ambassador before him； they passed down the avenue of footmen； and entered the next room。
The procession was breaking off to left and to right in alternate couples as though in a country dance； the Persian Ambassador went to the left； and Hornblower was ready to go to the right without the prompting of the gesture of the Grand Marshal； who was standing there ready to direct anyone in doubt。 It was another enormous room； lit by what seemed to be hundreds of cut…glass chandeliers dangling from the roof； and all down the length of it ran a vast table … miles long； it seemed； to Hornblower's disordered imagination … covered with gold plate and crystal and embanked with flowers。 The table was shaped like a T with a very small crosspiece； and the royal party had already taken their seats at the head； behind every chair all the way down stood a white…wigged footman。 It dawned upon Hornblower that dinner was about to begin； the food and drink which had been served in the domed hall had been something extra and introductory。 Hornblower was ready to laugh at himself for his idiotic lack of prehension at the same time as he was ready to groan with despair at the thought of having to eat his way through an Imperial dinner in his present distended condition。
Save for royalty； the men were standing at their chairs while the ladies sat； across the table the Persian Ambassador was bending affably over the young woman he had brought in； and the aigrette in his turban nodded and his diamonds flashed。 The last woman took her seat； and then the men sat down together … not quite as simultaneously as marines presenting arms； but almost so。 A babble of conversation began immediately； and almost immediately a golden soup plate was put under Hornblower's nose and a golden soup tureen full of pink soup was offered to him for him to help himself from。 He could not help glancing down the table； everyone had been given soup at the same moment … there must be two hundred footmen at least waiting at table。
〃That is M。 de Narbonne； the French Ambassador；〃 said the Countess； indicating with a glance a handsome young man across the table two places higher than the Persian Ambassador。 〃Of course the Grand Marshal did not present you to him。 And that is the Austrian Ambassador； and the Saxon Minister； and the Danish Minister； all your enemies officially。 The Spanish Ambassador es from Joseph Bonaparte； not from the Spanish partisan government which you recognize； so you could hardly be presented to him either。 I don't believe there's a soul here except us Russians to whom it would be proper to present you。〃
There was a cool； pleasant yellow wine in a tall glass before Hornblower； and he sipped it。
〃My experience to…day；〃 he said； 〃is that the Russians are the most delightful people in the world； and Russian women the most charming and most beautiful。〃
The Countess flashed a glance at him from her sultry eyes； and； it seemed to Hornblower； set his brains creeping about inside his skull。 The golden soup plate was whisked away and replaced by a golden dinner plate。 Another wine was poured into another glass before him … champagne。 It effervesced just as his thoughts appeared to him to be doing。 His footman spoke to him in Russian； apparently offering him a choice； and the Countess settled the problem without referring to him。
〃As this is your first visit to Russia；〃 she explained； 〃I could be sure that you have not yet tasted our Volga River trout。〃
She was helping herself to one as she spoke； from a golden dish： Hornblower's footman was presenting another golden dish。
〃A gold service looks very well；〃 said the Countess sadly； 〃but it allows the food to grow unfortunately cold。 I never use mine in my house save when I entertain His Imperial Majesty。 As that is the case in most houses I doubt if His Imperial Majesty ever has a hot meal。〃
The gold knife and fork with which Hornblower dissected his fish were heavy in his hands； and scraped oddly against the gold plate。
〃You have a kind heart； madame；〃 he said。 〃Yes；〃 said the Countess； with deep significance。
Hornblower's head whirled again； the champagne； so cold； so delicate； seemed perfectly adapted to put this right； and he drank of it thirstily。
A couple of fat little birds on toast followed the trout； they melted delicately in the mouth； some other wine followed the champagne。 And there was a venison stew； and a cut off some roast which might be mutton but which was borne on Pegasus…wings of garlic beyond mundane speculation。 Somewhere in the procession of food appeared a pink water ice； only the third or fourth which Hornblower had ever tasted。
〃Foreign kickshaws；〃 said Hornblower to himself； but he enjoyed the food and had no prejudice against foreign cookery。 Perhaps he said 'foreign kickshaws' to himself because that was what Bush would have said had he been eating the dinner。 Or perhaps it was because he was a little drunk … Hornblower's persistent s
