Mr. Harcourt, said Hornblower, in his harsh, expressionless monotone. Ill have the quarterboat cleared away ready to lower, if you please. Have a full boats crew told off, to double bank the oars.
Aye aye, My Lord.
Wholl go in her, My Lord? asked Gerard.
I will, said Hornblower.
The mainsail flapped, the boom came creaking inboard, swung out again, swung in. The breeze was dying away again. For a few minutes more Crab held her course, and then the bowsprit began to turn away from Daring.
Cant keep her on her course, sir, reported the quartermaster.
Hornblower swept his gaze round the horizon in the blazing afternoon. There was no sign of a further breeze. The decisive moment had come, and he snapped his telescope shut.
Ill take that boat now, Mr. Harcourt.
Let me come too, My Lord, said Gerard, a note of protest in his voice.
No, said Hornblower.
In case a breeze should get up during the next half hour, he wanted no useless weight in the boat while crossing the two-mile gap.
Put your backs into it, said Hornblower to the boats crew as they shoved off. The oarblades dipped in the blue, blue water, shining gold against the blue. The boat rounded Crab s stern, with anxious eyes looking down on them; Hornblower brought the tiller over and pointed straight for Daring. They soared up a gentle swell, and down again, up again and down again; with each rise and fall Crab was perceptibly smaller and Daring perceptibly larger, lovely in the afternoon light, during what Hornblower told himself were the last hours of his professional life. They drew nearer and nearer to Daring, until at last a hail came borne by the heated air.
Boat ahoy!
Coming aboard! hailed Hornblower back again. He stood up in the stern-sheets so that his gold-laced Admirals uniform was in plain sight.
Keep off! hailed the voice, but Hornblower held his course.
There could be no international incident made out of this, an unarmed boats crew taking an Admiral alone on board a becalmed ship. He directed the boat towards the mizzen chains.
Keep off! hailed the voice, an American voice.
Hornblower swung the boat in.
In oars! he ordered.
With the way she carried the boat surged towards the ship; Hornblower timed his movements to the best of his ability, knowing his own clumsiness. He leaped for the chains, got one shoe full of water, but held on and dragged himself up.
Lie off and wait for me! he ordered the boats crew, and then turned to swing himself over on to the deck of the ship.
The tall, thin man with a cigar in his mouth must be the American captain; the burly fellow beside him one of the mates. The guns were cast off, although not run out, and the American seamen were standing round them ready to open fire.
Did you hear me say keep off, mister? asked the captain.
I must apologise for this intrusion, sir, said Hornblower. I am Rear Admiral Lord Hornblower of His Britannic Majestys service, and I have the most urgent business with Count Cambronne.
For a moment on the sunlit deck they stood and looked at each other, and then Hornblower saw Cambronne approaching.
Ah, Count, said Hornblower, and then made himself speak French. It is a pleasure to meet Monsieur le Comte again.
He took off his cocked hat and held it over his breast and doubled himself in a bow which he knew to be ungainly.
And to what do I owe this pleasure, milord? asked Cambronne. He was standing very stiff and straight, his cats-whisker moustache bristling out on either side.
I have come to bring you the very worst of news, I regret to say, said Hornblower. Through many sleepless nights he had rehearsed these speeches to himself. Now he was forcing himself to make them naturally. And I have come also to do you a service, Count.
What do you wish to say, milord?
Bad news.
Well?
It is with the deepest regret, Count,
that I have to inform you of the death of your Emperor.
No!
The Emperor Napoleon died at St. Helena last month. I offer you my sympathy, Count.
Hornblower told the lie with every effort to appear like a man speaking the truth.
It cannot be true!
I assure you that it is, Count.
A muscle in the Counts cheek twitched restlessly beside the purple scar. His hard, slightly protruding eyes bored into Hornblowers like gimlets.
I received the news two days back in Port of Spain, said Hornblower. In consequence I cancelled the arrangements I had made for the arrest of this ship.
Cambronne could not guess that Crab had not made as quick a passage as he indicated.
I do not believe you, said Cambronne, nevertheless. It was just the sort of tale that might be told to halt Daring in her passage.
Sir! said Hornblower, haughtily. He drew himself up even stiffer, acting as well as he could the part of the man of honour whose word was being impugned. The pose was almost successful.
You must understand the importance of what you are saying, milord, said Cambronne, with the faintest hint of apology in his voice. But then he said the fatal dreaded words that Hornblower had been expecting. Milord, do you give me your word of honour as a gentleman that what you say is true?