csf.thecommodore-第37部分
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Luncheon was served in Hornblower's cabin to a party of eight； Hornblower； Bush； the two senior lieutenants； and the four Russians。 Bush was sweating with nervousness at the sight of the inhospitable table； at the last moment he had drawn Hornblower aside and pleaded unavailingly for Hornblower to change his mind and serve some of his remaining cabin delicacies as well as the plain ship's fare。 Bush could not get out of his mind the obsession that it was necessary to feed the Tsar well； any junior officer entertaining an admiral would blast all his hopes of future promotion if he put the men's ration beef on the table； and Bush could only think in terms of entertaining admirals。
The Tsar looked with interest at the battered pewter tureen which Brown set before Hornblower。
〃Pea soup； sir；〃 explained Hornblower。 〃One of the great delicacies of shipboard life。〃
Carlin； of long habit； began to rap his biscuit on the table； stopped when he realized what he was doing； and then started rapping again； guiltily。 He remembered the orders Hornblower had given； that everyone should behave as if no distinguished pany were present； Hornblower had backed up those orders with the direct threat of punishment should they be forgotten； and Carlin knew that Hornblower did not threaten in that way without every intention of doing what he promised。 Alexander looked at Carlin and then inquiringly at Bush beside him。
〃Mr Carlin is knocking out the weevils； sir；〃 explained Bush； almost overe with self…consciousness。 〃If you tap gently they e out of their own accord； this way； you see； sir。〃
〃Very interesting；〃 said Alexander； but he ate no bread； one of his aides…de…camp repeated the experiment； peered down at the fat white weevils with black heads that emerged； and exploded into what must have been a string of Russian oaths … almost the first words he had said since boarding the ship。
The visitors； after this inauspicious beginning； gingerly tasted the soup。 But in the British Navy pea soup； as Hornblower had remarked； was the best dish served； the aide…de…camp who had sworn at the weevils exclaimed with surprised gratification when he had tasted it； speedily consumed his plateful； and accepted another。 There were only three dishes served as the next course； boiled salt ribs of beef； boiled salt…beef tongue； and boiled salt pork； with pickled cabbage to acpany the meat。 Alexander studied the three dishes； and wisely accepted the tongue； the Minister of Marine and the aides…de…camp； at Hornblower's suggestion； took a mixed plateful； carved for them by Hornblower and Bush and Hurst。 The once silent but now talkative aide…de…camp set himself to chew on the salt beef with a truly Russian appetite and found it a long hard struggle。
Brown was now serving rum。
〃The life…blood of the Navy； sir；〃 said Hornblower； as Alexander studied his tumbler。 〃May I offer you gentlemen a toast which we can all drink with the heartiest goodwill？ The Emperor of All the Russias！ Vive l'Eempéreur！〃
All rose except Alexander to drink the toast； and they were hardly seated before Alexander was on his feet in turn。
〃The King of Great Britain。〃
The aide…de…camp's French broke down again when he tried to explain how deep an impression Navy rum made on him at this； his first encounter with it。 Eventually he gave the clearest proof of his appreciation by draining his tumbler and holding it out for Brown to refill。 As the table was cleared Alexander was ready with another toast。
〃modore Sir Horatio Hornblower； and the British Royal Navy。〃
As the glasses were drained Hornblower； looking round him； saw that he was expected to reply in form。
〃The Navy；〃 he said。 〃The guardian of the liberties of the world。 The unswerving friend； the unremitting enemy。 When the tyrant of Europe looks about him； seeking by fair means or foul to extend his dominion； it is the Navy that he finds in his path。 It is the Navy which is slowly strangling that tyrant。 It is the Navy which has baulked him at every turn； which is draining the life…blood from his boasted Empire and which will bring him down in ruin at the end。 The tyrant may boast of unbroken victory on land； but he can only deplore unbroken defeat at sea。 It is because of the Navy that every victory only leaves him weaker than before； forced； like Sisyphus； to roll his rock once more up towards an unattainable summit。 And one day that rock will crush him。 May it be sooner rather than later！〃
Hornblower ended his speech amid a little fierce murmur from the others at the table。 He was in an exalted mood again； this present occasion for making a speech had taken him a little by surprise； but he had hoped when he had first heard of the intended visit of the Tsar to have an opportunity sometime during the day of calling his attention once more to the aid which the British alliance could afford him。 Alexander was young and impressionable。 It was necessary to appeal to his emotions as well as to his intellect。 Hornblower stole a glance at the Tsar to see if he had attained his end； Alexander was sitting rapt in thought； his eyes looking down at the table。 He raised them to meet Hornblower's with a smile； and Hornblower felt a wave of exultation； of sublime confidence that his plan had succeeded。 He had had plain fare served at luncheon of set purpose； he had shown Alexander exactly how the Navy lived and slept and worked。 The Tsar could not be ignorant of the British Navy's glory； and Hornblower's intuitive mind told him that proof of the hardship of naval life would be a subtle appeal to the Tsar's emotions； it would be hard to explain exactly how it would appeal； but Hornblower was sure of it。 Alexander would be moved both to help men who won glory at such a cost and also would desire to have such tough fighters on his side。
Alexander was making a move to leave； the aide…de…camp hurriedly drained his fifth tumbler of rum； and it and its predecessors so worked upon him as to make him put his arm round Bush's shoulders as they came up on the quarter…deck and pat him on the back with wholehearted affection； while the long row of medals and orders on his chest jingled and clinked like tinkers working on pots and kettles。 Bush； keenly aware of the eyes of the ship's pany upon him； tried to writhe away from the embrace； but unavailingly。 He was red in the face as he bawled the order for the manning of the yards； and sighed with evident relief as Alexander's departure down the acmodation ladder made it necessary for the aide…de…camp to follow him。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
An easterly wind was not to be wasted。 Nonsuch and the flotilla were heading back down the Gulf of Finland with all sail set； and the modore was walking the quarter…deck； turning over in his mind all the problems which beset a mander…in…chief。 The problem of drinking water at least was settled； it would be two months easily； four months if necessary； before he had to worry about that。 The mere fact that he had refilled his water casks would be some sort of justification for his having had dealings with the Court of St Petersburg should Downing Street or Whitehall take exception to his recent activities … Hornblower ran through in his mind the wording of his report； which had laid as much stress on the advantage gained in this fashion as on the desirability of having made contact with the Russian Government。 He had a good case to plead。 But。。。
Hornblower turned and looked back at the squadron。
〃Make a signal to Lotus；〃 he ordered。 〃'Why are you out of station？'〃
The flags soared up the halliards； and Hornblower saw the sloop hurriedly correct her position。
〃Lotus acknowledges the signal； sir；〃 reported the midshipman。
〃Then make 'Why do you not reply to my question？'〃 said Hornblower； harshly。
It was some seconds before any reply was visible。
〃Lotus signals 'Inattention on the part of the officer of the watch'； sir。〃
〃Acknowledge；〃 said Hornblower。
He had stirred up trouble there； Vickery would be raging at this public censure； and the officer of the watch in question would be regretting his inattention at this very moment。 There would be no harm done and probably some good。 But Hornblower was perfectly aware that he h
