csf.mrmidshipmanhornblower-第52章
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'Starboard two points；' he said to the helmsman； trying to gauge at one and the same moment the frigate's course； the direction of the wind； the bearing of the other ships； and that of the thin last nucleus of that wisp of fog。
'Starboard two points；' said the helmsman。
'Fore and main sheets！' said Hunter。
Another shot； far astern this time but laid true for line； Hornblower suddenly remembered the duchess。
'You must go below； Your Grace；' he said curtly。
'Oh； no； no； no！' burst out the duchess with angry vehemence。 'Please let me stay here。 I can't go below to where that seasick maid of mine lies hoping to die。 Not in that stinking box of a cabin。'
There would be no safety in that cabin； Hornblower reflected…Le Rêve's scantlings were too fragile to keep out any shot at all。 Down below the water line in the hold the women might be safe； but they would have to lie flat on top of beef barrels。
'Sail ahead！' screamed the lookout。
The mist there was parting and the outline of a ship of the line was emerging from it； less than a mile away and on almost the same course as Le Rêve's。 Thud…thud from the frigate astern。 Those gunshots by now would have warned the whole Spanish fleet that something unusual was happening。 The battleship ahead would know that the little sloop was being pursued。 A ball tore through the air close by； with its usual terrifying noise。 The ship ahead was awaiting their ing； Hornblower saw her topsails slowly turning。
'Hands to the sheets！' said Hornblower。 'Mr Hunter； jibe her over。'
Le Rêve came round again； heading for the lessening gap on the port side。 The frigate astern turned to intercept。 More jets of smoke from her bows。 With an appalling noise a shot passed within a few feet of Hornblower； so that the wind of it made him stagger。 There was a hole in the mainsail。
'Your Grace；' said Hornblower； 'those aren't warning shots…'
It was the ship of the line which fired them； having succeeded in clearing away and manning some of her upper…deck guns。 It was as if the end of the world had e。 One shot hit Le Rêve's hull； and they felt the deck heave under their feet as a result as if the little ship were disintegrating。 But the mast was hit at the same moment； stays and shrouds parting； splinters raining all round。 Mast； sails； boom； gaff and all went from above them over the side to windward。 The wreckage dragged in the sea and turned the helpless wreck round with the last of her way。 The little group aft stood momentarily dazed。
'Anybody hurt？' asked Hornblower； recovering himself。
'On'y a scratch； sir；' said one voice。
It seemed a miracle that no one was killed。
'Carpenter's mate； sound the well；' said Hornblower and then； recollecting himself； 'No； damn it。 Belay that order。 If the Dons can save the ship； let 'em try。'
Already the ship of the line whose salvo had done the damage was filling her topsails again and bearing away from them； while the frigate which had pursued them was running down on them fast。 A wailing figure came scrambling out of the afterhatch way。 It was the duchess's maid； so mad with terror that her seasickness was forgotten。 The duchess put a protective arm round her and tried to fort her。
'Your Grace had better look to your baggage；' said Hornblower。 'No doubt you'll be leaving us shortly for other quarters with the Dons。 I hope you will be more fortable。'
He was trying desperately hard to speak in a matter…of…fact way； as if nothing out of the ordinary were happening； as if he were not soon to be a prisoner of the Spaniards； but the duchess saw the working of the usually firm mouth； and marked how the hands were tight clenched。
'How can I tell you how sorry I am about this？' asked the duchess； her voice soft with pity。
'That makes it the harder for me to bear；' said Hornblower； and he even forced a smile。
The Spanish frigate was just rounding…to； a cable's length to windward。
'Please； sir；' said Hunter。
'Well？'
'We can fight； sir。 You give the word。 Cold shot to drop in the boats when they try to board。 We could beat 'em off once； perhaps。'
Hornblower's tortured misery nearly made him snap out 'Don't be a fool'； but he checked himself。 He contented himself with pointing to the frigate。 Twenty guns were glaring at them at far less than point…blank range。 The very boat the frigate was hoisting out would be manned by at least twice as many men as Le Rêve carried…she was no bigger than many a pleasure yacht。 It was not odds of ten to one； or a hundred to one； but odds of ten thousand to one。
'I understand； sir；' said Hunter。
Now the Spanish frigate's boat was in the water； about to shove off。
'A private word with you； please； Mr Hornblower；' said the duchess suddenly。
Hunter and Winyatt heard what she said； and withdrew out of earshot。
'Yes； Your Grace？' said Hornblower。
The duchess stood there； still with her arm round her weeping maid； looking straight at him。
'I'm no more of a duchess than you are；' she said。
'Good God！' said Hornblower。 'Who…who are you； then？'
'Kitty Cobham。'
The name meant a little to Hornblower； but only a little。
'You're too young for that name to have any memories for you； Mr Hornblower； I see。 It's five years since last I trod the boards。'
That was it。 Kitty Cobham the actress。
'I can't tell it all now；' said the duchess…the Spanish boat was dancing over the waves towards them。 'But when the French marched into Florence that was only the last of my misfortunes。 I was penniless when I escaped from them。 Who would lift a finger for a onetime actress…one who had been betrayed and deserted？ What was I to do？ But a duchess…that was another story。 Old Dalrymple at Gibraltar could not do enough for the Duchess of Wharfedale。'
'Why did you choose that title？' asked Hornblower in spite of himself。
'I knew of her；' said the duchess with a shrug of the shoulders。 'I knew her to be what I played her as。 That was why I chose her…I always played character parts better than straight edy。 And not nearly so tedious in a long role。'
'But my despatches！' said Hornblower in a sudden panic of realization。 'Give them back； quick。'
'If you wish me to；' said the duchess。 'But I can still be the duchess when the Spaniards e。 They will still set me free as speedily as they can。 I'll guard those despatches better than my life…I swear it； I swear it！ In less than a month I'll deliver them； if you trust me。'
Hornblower looked at the pleading eyes。 She might be a spy； ingeniously trying to preserve the despatches from being thrown overboard before the Spaniards took possession。 But no spy could have hoped that Le Rêve would run into the midst of the Spanish fleet。
'I made use of the bottle； I know；' said the Duchess。 'I drank。 Yes； I did。 But I stayed sober in Gibraltar； didn't I？ And I won't touch a drop； not a drop； until I'm in England I'll swear that； too。 Please； sir…please。 I beg of you。 Let me do what I can for my country。'
It was a strange decision for a man of nineteen to have to make…one who had never exchanged a word with an actress in his life before。 A harsh voice overside told him that the Spanish boat was about to hook on。
'Keep them； then；' said Hornblower。 'Deliver them when you can。'
He had not taken his eyes from her face。 He was looking for a gleam of triumph in her expression。 Had he seen anything of the sort he would have torn the despatches from her body at that moment。 But all he saw was the natural look of pleasure； and it was then that he made up his mind to trust her…not before。
'Oh； thank you； sir；' said the duchess。
The Spanish boat had hooked on now； and a Spanish lieutenant was awkwardly trying to climb aboard。 He arrived on the deck on his hands and knees； and Hornblower stepped over to receive him as he got to his feet。 Captor and captive exchange bows。 Hornblower could not understand what the Spaniard said； but obviously they were formal sentences that he was using。 The Spaniard caught sight of the two women aft and halted in surprise； Hornblower hastily made the presentation in what he hoped was Spanish。
'Se？or el tenente Espanol；' he said。 'Se？ora la Duquesa de Wharfedale。'
The title clearly had its eff
