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〃Carry on；〃 said Hornblower。
Young Somers went first in accordance with the age…old rule of the junior getting first into a boat； and Braun followed him。 Braun's lifted arm； as he went over the side； pulled up his tight coat for a moment； and his waistcoat with it。 Something flashed momentarily into view at his waistband； something black … Hornblower's eyes were resting on it at that moment。 It must have been the butt of a pistol； the barrel of it pushed into the waistband of his breeches； round by his hip where the bulge would be least noticeable。 The fellow was wearing his sword； of course。 Hornblower began to wonder why he should take a pistol。 But Mound and Hurst had followed him down by this time； and Wychwood was heaving himself over； in his scarlet tunic and bearskin。 The Hussar should go next； so that the modore should descend last； but he was hanging back with misplaced politeness； bowing and making way for the modore。
〃After you； sir；〃 said Hornblower to his deaf ears。
Hornblower had positively to stamp his foot to pel the ignorant soldier to precede him； and then he swung himself over to the shrilling of the pipes of the boatswain's mates and the rigid salutes of the ship's officers。 He dropped into the sternsheets； encumbered with his boat…cloak。 There was a tiny cabin forward； where he joined Wychwood and Hurst。 Mound and the warrant officers and the Hussar kept themselves discreetly in the stern。 The coxswain yelled some strange order and the boat cast off； the lugsail was hoisted and they headed over to the Oranienbaum shore。
From where he sat Hornblower could see Braun sitting stiffly in the sternsheets。 That business of the pistol was rather curious。 Presumably he had fears of attack or arrest on shore as a recent rebel； and wished to have the means to defend himself。 But not even the Russians would lay hands on an English officer； in a British uniform。 That was a big pistol butt； a black one too。 Hornblower suddenly moved uneasily on his locker； uncrossed his knees and recrossed them。 That was one of the pistols Barbara had given him the butt of which he had seen in Braun's waistband。 He remembered the shape of the ebony butt too well to be mistaken about it。
The presence of a thief on board a ship was always upsetting and disturbing； theft was so easy and suspicion could be spread so wide； although that was not true in this case。 It would still be a nasty business accusing Braun of the crime and punishing him for it。 An English…made rifled pistol with percussion caps … presumably the very first of its kind to reach Russia … would mand a fabulous price at the Russian Court。 Braun could reasonably expect to obtain two or three hundred guineas for it。 And yet even with all his prejudice against him he could not believe Braun capable of petty theft。
The coxswain suddenly shouted a new order； and the pinnace came about on the other tack； the dipping lug with which she was equipped had to be taken in and reset when she tacked； and Hornblower watched the evolution with professional interest。 The 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；