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e Russian sailors were smart and handy enough； but that was to be expected of the crew of the pinnace specially attached to the service of the Russian Admiralty。 The Nonsuch was already far astern； hull down。 A buoy made its appearance close alongside； and passed away astern； the rapidity of its passage proof of the speed the pinnace was making through the water。
〃We're heading sou'west now； sir；〃 mented Hurst； 〃we're out of the fairway。〃
He climbed up out of the little cabin and peered ahead。
〃Land right ahead； sir；〃 he reported； 〃but no sign of any palace。〃
〃I know nothing about the Peterhof；〃 remarked Wychwood。 〃I was in Tsarskoe Selo and the old Winter Palace as a subaltern on Wilson's staff before Tilsit。 The Peterhof's one of the lesser palaces； I expect they chose it for this meeting so that Bernadotte could arrive direct by sea。〃
It was quite futile to debate what would be the result of this evening's meeting； and yet the temptation was overwhelming。 The minutes slipped by until the coxswain shouted a new order。 The lugsail came down； and the piles of a jetty came into sight beside the pinnace as she rounded…to。 Lines were thrown out and the pinnace drew in beside a broad panion way rundown into the water from the top of the jetty。 This time the Russian officer's politeness was not misplaced。 First out of a boat and last in； in order of seniority； was the etiquette of the Navy； Hornblower ducked out of the little cabin； stepped on to the panionway and began to walk up； hurriedly making sure that his cocked hat was on straight and his sword properly slung。 As he reached the top someone shouted an order； there was a guard of twenty soldiers drawn up there； grenadiers in bearskins and blue coats。 They put their left arms across their breasts as they presented arms in a fashion that appeared backhanded to a man accustomed to receiving salutes from the Royal Marines。 Yet the uniforms and the pose seemed strangely familiar； Hornblower realized that he was being reminded of the wooden soldiers that young Richard had been playing with … a box of German soldiers smuggled out of the continental blockade and presented to him by one of Barbara's diplomatic friends。 Of course the Russian Army was organized on the German model； and German uniforms had been introduced by Peter III。 Hornblower stiffly returned the salute of the officer of the guard； standing at attention long enough for the rest of the party to catch him up； the Hussar spoke rapidly to Braun in Russian。
〃There are carriages waiting for us； sir；〃 Braun interpreted； Hornblower could see them at the end of the jetty； two big open landaus； with fine horses to each； in the drivers' seats sat coachmen pigtailed and powdered wearing red coats … not the scarlet of the British Army or of the British royal liveries； but a softer； strawberry red。 Footmen similarly dressed stood at the horses' heads and at the carriage doors。
〃Senior officers go in the first carriage；〃 explained Braun。
Hornblower climbed in； with Wychwood and Hurst after him； with an apologetic smile the Hussar followed them and sat with his back to the horses。 The door shut。 One footman leaped up beside the coachman and the other sprang up behind； and the horses dashed forward。 The road wound through a vast park； alternate sweeps of grass and groves of trees； here and there fountains threw lofty jets of water at the sky； and marble naiads posed by marble basins。 Occasional turns in the road opened up beautiful vistas down the terraced lawns； there were long flights of marble steps and beautiful little marble pavilions； but also； at every turning； beside every fountain and every pavilion； there were sentries on guard； stiffly presenting arms as the carriages whirled by。
〃Every Tsar for the last three generations has been murdered；〃 remarked Wychwood。 〃It's only the women who die in their beds。 Alexander is taking precautions。〃
The carriage turned sharply again and came out on a broad gravelled parade ground； on the farther side Hornblower just had time to see the palace； a rambling rococo building of pink and grey stone with a dome at either end； before the carriage drew up at the entrance to the salute of a further guard； and a white…powdered footman opened the doors。 With a few polite words in Russian the Hussar led the party forward up a flight of pink marble steps and into a lofty anteroom。 A swarm of servants came forward to take their boat…cloaks； Hornblower remembered to put his cocked hat under his arm and the others followed his example。 The folding doors beyond were thrown open； and they went towards them； to be received by a dignified official whose coat was of the same Imperial red where the colour was visible through the gold lace。 He wore powder and carried in his hand a gold…tipped ebony stave。
〃Kotchubey；〃 he said； speaking fair French。 〃Grand Marshal of the Palace。 modore Hornblower？ Lord Wychwood？〃
They bowed to him； and Hornblower presented the others； he saw the Grand Marshal run an all…embracing eye over their uniforms to make sure that nothing unworthy of the Court of the Tsar would penetrate farther into the palace。 Then he turned back to Hornblower and Wychwood。
〃His Excellency the Minister of Marine would be honoured if modore Hornblower would grant him time for a short interview。〃
〃I am at His Excellency's service；〃 said Hornblower； 〃but I am here at the mand of His Imperial Majesty。〃
〃That is very good of you； sir。 There will be time before His Imperial Majesty appears。 And His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs would be honoured by Lord Wychwood's attention for a few minutes in a similar way。〃
〃I am at His Excellency's service；〃 said Wychwood。 For a man of his experience his French was remarkably poor。
〃Thank you；〃 said Kotchubey。
He turned； and three more officers of the Court approached at his gesture。 They wore less gold lace than Kotchubey； and from the gold keys embroidered on their lapels Hornblower knew them to be chamberlains。 There were further introductions； more bows。
〃Now if you have the kindness to acpany me； sir …〃 said Kotchubey to Hornblower。
Two chamberlains took charge of the junior officers； one took charge of Wychwood； and Kotchubey led Hornblower away。 Hornblower gave one last glance at his party。 Even the stolid Hurst； even the deliberately languid Mound； wore rather scared expressions at being abandoned by their captain like this in an Imperial palace。 Hornblower was reminded of children being handed over by their parents to a strange nurse。 But Braun's expression was different。 His green eyes were glowing with excitement； and there was a new tenseness about his features； and he was casting glances about him like a man preparing himself for some decisive action。 Hornblower felt a wave of misgiving break over him； during the excitement of setting foot in Russia he had forgotten about Braun； about the stolen pistol； about everything connected with him。 He wanted time to think； and yet Kotchubey was hurrying him away and allowing him no time。 They walked through a magnificent room … Hornblower was only just conscious of its furniture； pictures； and statuary … and through folding doors beyond； which were opened for them by two of the footmen who seemed to be present in hundreds。 The corridor was wide and lofty； more like a picture gallery than a corridor； but Kotchubey only went a few yards along it。 He stopped abruptly at an inconspicuous door； from before which two more footmen stepped with alacrity at his approach。 The door opened straight upon a steep winding stairway； half…way up there was another door； this one guarded by four burly soldiers in pink uniforms with high boots and baggy breeches whom Hornblower recognized as the first Cossacks he had ever seen in the flesh。 They nearly jammed the narrow stairway as they drew back against the wall to make way； Hornblower had to push past them。 Kotchubey scratched upon the door and instantly opened it； immediately drawing Hornblower after him with a gesture as though he were a conspirator。
〃Sir Hornblower；〃 he announced； having shut the door。 The big man in the vaguely naval uniform； with epaulettes and a string of orders across his breast； must be the Minister of Marine； he came forward cordially； speaking fair French and with a courtly apology for not speaking English。 But in the far corner of the room was another figure； tall and slender； in a beautiful light…blue uniform。 He was strikingly handsome； but as though he came from another world； the ivory pallor of his cheeks； accentuated by his short black side…whiskers； was more unnatural than unhealthy。 He made no move as he sat stiffly upright in the dark corner； his finger…tips resting on a low table before him； and neither of the Russian officials gave any overt sign of acknowledging his presence； but Hornblower knew that it was the Tsar； thinking quickly； he realized that if the Tsar's own officials pretended the Tsar was not there； then he could do no less。 He kept his eyes on the Minister of Marine's。
〃I trust；〃 said the latter； 〃that I see you in good health？〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Hornblower。 〃I am in the best of health。〃
〃And your squadron？〃
〃That is in the best of health too； Your Excellency。〃
〃Does it need anything？〃
Hornblower had to think quickly again。 On the one hand was the desire to appear utterly independent； but on the other there was the nagging knowledge that water would soon be running short。 Every manding officer； whether of ships or squadron； carried always at the back of his mind the vital； urgent need for renewing his ship's drinking water。 And a Minister of Marine … even a Russian one … must be aware of that。
〃Firewood and water； as always；〃 said Hornblower； 〃would be of the greatest convenience。〃
〃I shall inquire if it is convenient to send a water…boat to your squadron to…morrow morning；〃 said the Minister。
〃I thank Your Excellency；〃 said Hornblower； wondering what he would be asked to do in exchange。
〃You have been informed； sir；〃 said the Minister； changing the subject so obviously that Hornblower could only attribute it to nervousness at having the Tsar listening to the conversation； 〃of Bonaparte's occupation of Swedish Pomerania？〃
〃Yes； Your Excellency。〃
〃And what is your opinion of that transaction？〃
Hornblower delayed his answer while he sorted out his thoughts and worked out the French phrases。
〃Typical Bonapartism；〃 he said。 〃He tolerates neutrality on the part of weak powers only while he can profit by it。 The moment he finds it inconveniences him； he treacherously sends forward his army； and on the heels of the army march all the plagues of Bonapartism； terror and famine and misery。 The gaol； the firing party； and the secret police。 The bankers and the merchants are stripped of all they possess。 The men are thrust into the ranks of his army； and the women … all the world knows what happens to the women。〃
〃But do you not believe his object was merely plunder？〃
〃No； Your Excellency … although plunder is always useful to Bonaparte's top…heavy finances。 He overran Pomerania the moment it was apparent that its usefulness as a neutral base for his privateers had ceased with the appearance of my squadron。〃
Inspiration came to Hornblower at that moment； his expression must have changed； for as he hesitated the Minister prompted him with obvious interest。
〃Monsieur was going to say … ？〃
〃Bonaparte controls the whole Baltic coast now； as far as the frontiers of His Imperial Majesty's dominions。 That would be most convenient to him in one particular event； Your Excellency。 In the event of his deciding to launch an attack on Russia。〃 Hornblower threw into those words all the power of speech that he could muster； and the Minister nodded … Hornblower did not dare； much as he wanted to； to throw a glance at the Tsar to see what effect his words had on him。
〃Bonaparte would never feel easy in his mind regarding his munications while Pomerania was Swedish so long as there was a British fleet in the Baltic。 It could be too good a base for an attack on his rear； convoyed by my squadron。 He has eliminated that danger now … he can march an army against St Petersburg； should he attack Russia； without fear of its being cut off。 It is one more thr