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of all the potential anarchy of Europe' … 'a menace to the peace of the world' … 'deliberately hostile to the benefits conferred upon the world by the French people'。〃
〃And that must be published with Bonaparte's consent；〃 mented Hornblower； half to himself； but Braun was still deep in the article。
〃'The wanton ravisher of Finland；'〃 read Braun； more than half to himself。 He raised his green eyes from the sheet。 There was a gleam of hatred in them that startled Hornblower； it reminded him of what he was in a fair way to forget； that Braun was a penniless exile on account of Russia's attack on Finland。 Braun had taken service with England； but that was at a time when Russia was at least England's nominal enemy。 Hornblower made a mental note that it might be as well not to trust Braun with any confidential business regarding Russia； of her own free will Russia would never restore Finnish independence； and there was always the chance that Bonaparte might do so … that he might restore what Bonaparte would call Finnish independence； for what that was worth。 There were still people who might be deceived by Bonaparte's professions； despite his record of deceit and broken faith； of cruelty and robbery。
Braun would bear watching； thought Hornblower … that would be something more to bear in mind； as if he did not have enough worries or carry enough responsibility already。 He could joke with Bush about the Swedes and the Russians； but secretly anxiety was gnawing at him。 The Swedes might well be exasperated by the destruction of the Blanchefleur in Pomeranian waters。 That might be the last straw； Bernadotte might at this very moment be contemplating wholehearted alliance with Bonaparte and war with England。 The prospect of the enmity of Sweden as well as that of France might easily break down Russia's resolution。 England might find herself with the whole world in arms against her as a result of Hornblower's action。 A fine climax that would be to his first independent mand。 Those cursed brothers of Barbara's would sneer in superior fashion at his failure。
Hornblower shook himself with an effort out of this nightmare； to find that Braun was obviously still in his。 The hatred in his eyes； the intensity of his expression were quite startling。 And then someone knocked on the cabin door and Braun came out of his dream and slipped instantly into his old attitude of attentive deference。
〃e in；〃 shouted Hornblower。
It was one of the midshipmen of the watch。
〃Mr Montgomery sent me with this signal from Raven； sir。〃
He held out the slate； it was scrawled with the words written on it by the signal officer。
Have met Swedish vessel desirous of speaking with modore。
〃I'll e on deck；〃 said Hornblower。 〃Ask the captain if he'll be kind enough to e too。〃
〃The cap'n's on deck； sir。〃
〃Very good。〃
Bush and Montgomery and half a dozen officers had their glasses trained towards the topsails of the Raven at her station far out on the port beam as the squadron swept up the Baltic。 There was still an hour of daylight left。
〃Captain Bush；〃 said Hornblower； 〃I'd be obliged if you would have the helm put up and run down towards her。〃
〃Aye aye； sir。〃
〃And signal for the squadron to take up night stations； if you please。〃
〃Aye aye； sir。〃
Nonsuch heaved her ponderous self about； lying over as she took the wind abeam while the watch hauled aft on the starboard braces。
〃There's a sail just astern of Raven； sir；〃 said Montgomery。 〃Looks like a brig。 A Swede from the cut of her tops'ls； sir。 One of those Baltic traders you see in Leith Roads。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Hornblower。
It would not be long before he heard what the news was。 It might well be … it probably would be … something desperately unpleasant。 Some new load of responsibility for his shoulders； for certain； even if it told of no actual disaster。 He found himself envying Montgomery his simple duties of officer of the watch； with nothing more to do than simply obey orders and keep an eye on the weather； with the blessed obligation of having to refer all important decisions to a superior。 Hornblower made himself stand still on the quarter…deck； his hands clasped behind him； as Nonsuch and the brig approached each other； as first the brig's courses and then her hull came up over the horizon。 To the west the sky was a flaming crimson； but twilight lingered on as the brig came up into the wind。
〃Captain Bush；〃 said Hornblower； 〃will you heave to； if you please？ They are putting a boat overside。〃
He would not display vulgar curiosity by staring at the boat as it was launched； or by looking down into it as it came alongside； he paced peacefully up and down the quarter…deck in the lovely evening； looking in every direction save towards the boat； while the rest of the officers and the men chattered and stared and speculated。 Yet Hornblower； for all his air of sublime indifference； turned to face the entry…port at the exact moment when the visitor was ing in over the side。 The first thing Hornblower saw was a fore…and…aft cocked hat with a white plume that seemed familiar； and then under the hat appeared the heavy face and portly form of Baron Basse。 He laid the hat across his chest to make his bow just as he had done before。
〃Your servant； sir；〃 said Hornblower； saluting stiffly。 He was handicapped by the fact that although he could remember Basse very well； and could have described him to perfection； he did not remember his name。 He turned to the midshipman of the watch。 〃Pass the word for Mr Braun。〃
The Swedish gentleman was saying something； but what it was Hornblower could not imagine。
〃I beg your pardon； sir；〃 said Hornblower； and Basse repeated what he said； with no more success at conveying his meaning。 He began once more laboriously； but cut himself short when he saw Hornblower distractedly looking away from him towards the entry…port。 Hornblower was doing his best to be polite； but he could see a bearskin headdress ing in at the entry…port； and that was too intriguing a sight for him possibly to withstand its attraction。 A big bearskin cap with a red plume； a bristling red moustache； a scarlet tunic； a red sash； a profusion of gold lace； blue pantaloons with a red stripe； high boots； a sword whose golden hilt glowed strangely in the fading light； that was the uniform of the Guards； surely。 The wearer of the uniform was undersized for a guardsman； but he certainly knew his ceremonial； his hand was at the salute to the quarter…deck as he came in through the entry…port； and then he strode forward on short legs and brought his heels together in a smart Guards salute to Hornblower。
〃Good evening； sir；〃 he said。 〃You are Captain Sir Horatio Hornblower？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Hornblower。
〃May I introduce myself？ I am Colonel Lord Wychwood； of the First Guards。〃
〃Good evening；〃 said Hornblower coolly。 As modore he was decidedly senior to a Colonel； and he could afford to be cool while waiting on events。 He supposed that he would soon hear the explanation of this arrival of a Colonel of the Grenadier Guards in full regimentals in the middle of the Baltic Sea。
〃I have despatches；〃 said Lord Wychwood； fumbling in the breast of his tunic； 〃from our Ambassador at Stockholm for you； sir。〃
〃Let us go to my cabin； sir；〃 said Hornblower。 He darted a glance at Basse。
〃You have already made the acquaintance of Baron Basse； I understand？ He has messages for you； too。〃
〃Then perhaps the Baron will be kind enough to e below as well。 If you gentlemen will be kind enough to allow me to precede you； I will show the way。〃
Braun interpreted ceremoniously as Hornblower headed the procession。 In the darkened cabin Brown hastened to bring lamps and brought forward chairs； Wychwood lowered himself into his with all the caution demanded by his tight overalls。
〃You've heard what Boney's done？〃 he began。
〃I have heard nothing recently。〃
〃He sent 50；000 troops into Swedish Pomerania the moment he got the news of what you did off Stralsund。〃
〃Indeed？〃
〃They acted in their usual style。 Vandamme was in mand。 He began by fining the municipality of Stralsund 100；000 francs for not greeting his arrival with the ringing of the church bells。 He interrupted the service at the church of the Holy Ghost so as to lay hold of the munion plate。 He seized the Governor…General and threw him into gaol。 The troops were out of hand because the garrison of Rügen tried to oppose their crossing。 There was looting and murder and rape all through Rügen。 The Baron here escaped in a fishing…boat。 All the other officials and the troops are prisoners。〃
〃So Boney is at war with Sweden now？〃
Wychwood shrugged his shoulders； everyone in the Baltic seemed to shrug shoulders when it was a matter of having to make a downright statement regarding peace and war。
〃The Baron here can tell you about that；〃 said Wychwood。 They turned their glances towards the Baron； who began a voluble explanation in Swedish； Braun； standing against the bulkhead； translated。
〃He says that the question of peace and war lies with the Crown Prince； His Royal Highness Charles John； who used to be known as Marshal Bernadotte。 His Royal Highness is not in Sweden at the moment。 He is visiting the Tsar in Russia。〃
〃I expect that's what these despatches I have for you are about； sir；〃 said Wychwood。 He produced a large canvas envelope； heavily sealed； and handed it over。 Hornblower tore it open and read the contents。
Embassy of His Britannic Majesty at Stockholm
May 20； 1812
SIR；
The bearer of this despatch； Colonel Lord Wychwood； First Guards； will inform you as to the political situation here。 It is to be hoped that Bonaparte's invasion of Swedish Pomerania will bring about a declaration of war on the part of the Swedish government。 It is therefore necessary that all possible aid should be given to Swedish officials who wish to municate with H。R。H。 the Crown Prince。 You are therefore directed and required to use all diligence and despatch to escort or convey any such officials on their way to Russia。 You are further directed and required to make all use of this opportunity to enable Lord Wychwood to open munication with the Russian government so as to assure H。I。M。 the Tsar of the full support of His Majesty's forces by land and sea in the event of war between H。 I。 M。 and the French government。 You will further make all use of any opportunity which may present itself to you to further good relations between H。M。 and H。I。M。
Your obd't servant；
H。 L。 MERRY； H。B。M。's Ambassador
to the Court of Stockholm
CAPTAIN SIR HORATIO HORNBLOWER； K。B。
modore manding the British Squadron in the Baltic
Hornblower read the orders through twice； carefully。 There was an important decision to be made。 Merry had no business giving orders； and especially had no business to give orders in the explicit 'directed and required' wording which was the cherished prerogative of his naval superiors。 An Ambassador was an important official … to a naval officer in foreign waters the most important official after the Lords of Admiralty … but he could only request and advise； not give orders。 If Hornblower should follow Merry's instructions and the matter turn out ill he would have no excuse to plead to the Admiralty。 Yet on the other hand Hornblower knew only too well that if he were to ignore Merry's letter there would be bitter plaints sent to London。
Hornblower recalled his Admiralty orders to himself； they gave him wide discretion as to how he should behave towards the northern powers。 Merry's letter relieved him of no responsibility。 He could allow Wychwood and Basse to proceed in the Swedish brig； or he could convey them himself； the point at issue was whether the news of Bonaparte's latest aggression should be conveyed by a British squadron or not。 Bearers of bad tidings were always unpopular … a ridiculous detail to have to bear in mind； but an important one。 The two potentates might feel exasperated at being reminded of the meddling British Navy； bringing trouble to everyone。 On the other hand； the presence of a British squadron far up the Baltic； at the very gates of St Petersburg； might be a salutary reminder of the length of England's arm。 Submission to Bonaparte or the part of Sweden