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！
d to gulp his final glass of brandy because they were already nearly an hour late for the gala performance of the ballet where they were next due to go。
He walked heavily up the stone stairs of the theatre； his spurs ringing and his sword clattering as it trailed beside him。 Two ushers led the way； and behind Hornblower and Essen walked the others of the inner circle； the Countess and her husband and two other officials and their wives。 The ushers held open the door of the box； and Hornblower waited on the threshold for the ladies to enter。
〃The modore will go first；〃 said Essen； and Hornblower plunged in。 The theatre was brightly lighted； and parterre and gallery were crowded； Hornblower's entrance drew a storm of applause； which smote upon his ears and momentarily paralysed him as he stood there。 A fortunate instinct prompted him to bow； first to one side and then to the other； as if he were an actor； as he said to himself。 Then someone thrust a chair behind him and he sat down； with the rest of the party round him。 Throughout the auditorium ushers immediately began to turn down the lamps； and the orchestra broke into the overture。 The curtain rose to reveal a woodland scene； and the ballet began。
〃A lively thing； this Madame Nicolas；〃 said the Governor in a penetrating whisper。 〃Tell me if you like her。 I can send for her after the performance if you desire。〃
〃Thank you；〃 whispered Hornblower in reply； feeling ridiculously embarrassed。 The Countess was close on his other side and he was too conscious of her warmth to feel fortable。
The music hurried on； and in the golden glow of the footlights the ballet went through its dazzling maze； skirts flying and feet twinkling。 It was incorrect to say that music meant nothing to Hornblower； the monotonous beat of its rhythm； when he was pelled to listen to it for long； stirred something in the depths of him even while its guessed…at sweetness tormented his ear like a Chinese water torture。 Five minutes of music left him dull and unmoved； fifteen minutes made him restless； an hour was sheer agony。 He forced himself to sit still during the long ordeal； even though he felt he would gladly exchange his chair in the box for the quarter…deck of a ship in the hottest and most hopeless battle ever fought。 He tried to shut his ears to the persistent insidious noise； to distract himself by concentrating his attention on the dancers； on Madame Nicolas as she pirouetted across the stage in her shimmering white； on the others as； chin on finger and the other hand supporting the elbow； they came down the stage a…tiptoe in alluring line。 Yet it was of no avail； and his misery increased from minute to minute。
The Countess at his side was stirring； too。 He knew； telepathically； what she was thinking about。 The literature of all ages； from the Ars Amatoria to Les Liaisons Dangereuses told him theoretically of the effect of music and spectacles upon the feminine mind； and in violent revulsion he hated the Countess as much as he hated music。 The only movement he made； as he sat there stoically enduring the tortures of the damned for the sake of his duty； was to shift his foot away out of reach of hers … he knew in his bones that she would endeavour to touch him soon； while her beaky…nosed husband with his quizzing glass sat just behind them。 The entr'acte was only a poor respite； the music at least ceased； and he was able to stand； blinking a little as the thrown…open door of the box admitted a stream of light； and he bowed politely when the Governor presented a few lateers who came to pay their respects to the British visitor。 But in no time at all； it seemed； he was forced to seat himself again； while the orchestra resumed its maddening scraping； and the curtain rose on a new scene。
Then a distraction came。 Hornblower was not sure when he first heard it； he might have missed the first premonitory shots in his determined effort to shut himself inside himself。 He came out of his nightmare conscious of a new tension in the people round him； the boom of heavy artillery was very noticeable now … it even seemed as if the theatre itself were vibrating gently to the heavy concussions。 He kept his head and neck still； and stole a glance out of the corner of his eye at the Governor beside him； but the Governor seemed to be still entirely engrossed in watching Mme Nicolas。 Yet the firing was very heavy。 Somewhere not very far away big guns were being fired rapidly and in large numbers。 His first thought was for his ships； but he knew them to be safe； anchored at the mouth of the Dwina； and if the wind was still in the direction it was blowing when he entered the theatre Bush could get them out of harm's way whatever happened； even if Riga were taken by storm that very hour。
The audience was taking its cue from the Governor； and as he refused to allow the gunfire to distract him everyone made a brave attempt to appear unconcerned。 But everyone in the box； at least； felt tightened nerves when rapid steps outside in the stone…flagged corridor； to the acpaniment of the ringing of spurs； heralded the entrance of an orderly officer； who came in and whispered hurriedly to the Governor。 Essen dismissed him with a few words； and only when he had gone； and after a minute's interval which seemed like an hour； leaned over to Hornblower with the news。
〃The French have tried to take Daugavgriva by a coup de main；〃 he explained。 〃There is no chance of their succeeding。〃
That was the village on the left bank of the Dwina； in the angle between the sea and the river； the natural first objective for a besieging force that was desirous of cutting off the town from all hope of relief by sea。 It was nearly an island； with the Gulf of Riga covering one flank； and the mile…wide Dwina river covering the rear； while the rest was girt by marshes and ditches and protected by breastworks thrown up by the peasant labour called in from miles round。 The French would be likely to try a direct assault upon the place； because success would save them weeks of tedious siege operations； and they had no knowledge as yet of whether or not the Russians were able or willing to offer effective resistance。 This was the first time Macdonald had encountered any serious opposition since he had begun his advance across Lithuania … the main Russian armies were contesting the road to Moscow in the neighbourhood of Smolensk。 Hornblower had inspected the works that very morning； had observed the strength of the place and the steady appearance of the Russian grenadiers who garrisoned it； and had formed the conclusion that it was safe against anything except systematic siege。 Yet he wished he could be as sublimely confident about it as the Governor was。
On the other hand； everything possible had already been done。 If the village fell； it fell； and nothing more serious had happened than the loss of an outwork。 If the attack were beaten off there could be no question of following up the success； not while Macdonald disposed of 60；000 men and the Russians of 15；000 at most。 Of course Macdonald was bound to attempt a coup de main upon Daugavgriva。 It was interesting to speculate what would be his next move should the assault fail。 He might