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'But my despatches！' said Hornblower in a sudden panic of realization。 'Give them back； quick。'
'If you wish me to；' said the duchess。 'But I can still be the duchess when the Spaniards e。 They will still set me free as speedily as they can。 I'll guard those despatches better than my life…I swear it； I swear it！ In less than a month I'll deliver them； if you trust me。'
Hornblower looked at the pleading eyes。 She might be a spy； ingeniously trying to preserve the despatches from being thrown overboard before the Spaniards took possession。 But no spy could have hoped that Le Rêve would run into the midst of the Spanish fleet。
'I made use of the bottle； I know；' said the Duchess。 'I drank。 Yes； I did。 But I stayed sober in Gibraltar； didn't I？ And I won't touch a drop； not a drop； until I'm in England I'll swear that； too。 Please； sir…please。 I beg of you。 Let me do what I can for my country。'
It was a strange decision for a man of nineteen to have to make…one who had never exchanged a word with an actress in his life before。 A harsh voice overside told him that the Spanish boat was about to hook on。
'Keep them； then；' said Hornblower。 'Deliver them when you can。'
He had not taken his eyes from her face。 He was looking for a gleam of triumph in her expression。 Had he seen anything of the sort he would have torn the despatches from her body at that moment。 But all he saw was the natural look of pleasure； and it was then that he made up his mind to trust her…not before。
'Oh； thank you； sir；' said the duchess。
The Spanish boat had hooked on now； and a Spanish lieutenant was awkwardly trying to climb aboard。 He arrived on the deck on his hands and knees； and Hornblower stepped over to receive him as he got to his feet。 Captor and captive exchange bows。 Hornblower could not understand what the Spaniard said； but obviously they were formal sentences that he was using。 The Spaniard caught sight of the two women aft and halted in surprise； Hornblower hastily made the presentation in what he hoped was Spanish。
'Se？or el tenente Espanol；' he said。 'Se？ora la Duquesa de Wharfedale。'
The title clearly had its effect； the lieutenant bowed profoundly； and his bow was received with the most lofty aloofness by the duchess。 Hornblower could be sure the despatches were safe。 That was some alleviation of the misery of standing here on the deck of his water…logged little ship； a Prisoner of the Spaniards。 As he waited he heard； from far to leeward； roll upon roll of thunder ing up against the wind。 No thunder could endure that long。 What he could hear must be the broadsides of ships in action…of fleets in action。 Somewhere over there by Cape St Vincent the British fleet must have caught the Spaniards at last。 Fiercer and fiercer sounded the roll of the artillery。 There was excitement among the Spaniards who had scrambled on to the deck of Le Rêve； while Hornblower stood bareheaded waiting to be taken into captivity。
Captivity was a dreadful thing。 Once the numbness had worn off Hornblower came to realize what a dreadful thing it was。 Not even the news of the dreadful bartering which the Spanish navy had received at St Vincent could relieve the misery and despair of being a prisoner。 It was not the physical conditions…ten square feet of floor space per man in an empty sail loft at Ferrol along with other captive warrant officers…for they were no worse than what a junior officer often had to put up with at sea。 It was the loss of freedom； the fact of being a captive； that was so dreadful。
There were four months of it before the first letter came through to Hornblower； the Spanish government； inefficient in all ways； had the worst postal system in Europe。 But here was the letter； addressed and re…addressed； now safely in his hands after he had practically snatched it from a stupid Spanish non…missioned officer who had been puzzling over the strange name。 Hornblower did not know the handwriting； and when he broke the seal and opened the letter the salutation made him think for a moment that he had opened someone else's letter。
'Darling Boy；' it began。 Now who on earth would call him that？ He read on in a dream。
'Darling Boy；
I hope it will give you happiness to hear that what you gave me has reached its destination。 They told me； when I delivered it； that you are a prisoner； and my heart bleeds for you。 And they told me too that they were pleased with you for what you had done And one of those admirals is a shareholder in Drury Lane。 Whoever would have thought of such a thing？ But he smiled at me； and I smiled at him。 I did not know he was a shareholder then； and I only smiled out of the kindness of my heart。 And all that I told him about my dangers and perils with my precious burden were only histrionic exercises； I am afraid。 Yet he believed me； and so struck was he by my smile and my adventures； that he demanded a part for me from Sherry； and behold； now I am playing second lead； usually a tragic mother； and receiving the acclaim of the groundlings。 There are pensations in growing old； which I am discovering too。 And I have not tasted wine since I saw you last； nor shall I ever again。 As one more reward； my admiral promised me that he would forward this letter to you in the next cartel…an expression which no doubt means more to you than to me。 I only hope that it reaches you in good time and brings you fort in your affliction。
I pray nightly for you。
Ever your devoted friend；
Katharine Cobham。'
fort in his affliction？ A little； perhaps。 There was some fort in knowing that the despatches had been delivered； there was some fort in a second…hand report that Their Lordships were pleased with him。 There was fort even in knowing that the duchess was re…established on the stage。 But the sum total was nothing pared with his misery。
Here was a guard e to bring him to the mandant and beside the mandant was the Irish renegade who served as interpreter。 There were further papers on the mandant's desk…it looked as if the same cartel which had brought in Kitty Cobham's note had brought in letters for the mandant。
'Good afternoon； sir；' said the mandant； always polite offering a chair。
'Good afternoon； sir； and many thanks；' said Hornblower He was learning Spanish slowly and painfully。
'You have been Promoted。' said the Irishman in English
'W…what？' said Hornblower。
'Promoted；' said the Irishman。 'Here is the letter…〃The Spanish authorities are informed that on account of his meritorious service the acting…mission of Mr Horatio Hornblower； midshipman and acting…lieutenant； has been confirmed。 Their Lordships of the Admiralty express their confidence that Mr Horatio Hornblower will be admitted immediately to the privileges of missioned rank。〃 There you are； young man。'
'My felicitations； sir；' said the mandant。
'Many thanks； sir；' said Hornblower。
The mandant was a kindly old gentleman with a pleasant smile for the awkward young man。 He went on to say more； but Hornblower's Spanish was not equal to the technicalities he used； and Hornblower in despair looked at the interpreter。
'Now that you are a missioned officer；' said the latter； you will be transferred to the quarters for captured officers。'
'Thank you；' said Hornblower。
'You will receive the half pay of your rank。'
'Thank you。'
'And your parole will be accepted。 You will be at liberty to visit in the town and the neighbourhood for two hours each day on giving your parole。'
'Thank you；' said Hornblower。
Perhaps； during the long months which followed； it was some mitigation of his unhappiness that for two hours each day his parole gave him freedom； freedom to wander in the streets of the little town； to have a cup of chocolate or a glass of wine…providing he had any money…making polite and laborious conversation with Spanish soldiers or sailors or civilians。 But it was better to spend his two hours wandering over the goat paths of the headland in the wind and the sun； in the panionship of the sea； which might alleviate the sick misery of captivity。 There was slightly better food； slightly better quarters。 And there was the knowledge that now he was a lieutenant； that he held the King's mission； that if ever； ever； the war should end and he should be set free he could starve on half pay…for with the end of the war there would be no employment for junior lieutenants。 But he had earned his promotion。 He had gained the approval of authority； that was something to think about on his solitary walks。
There came a day of south…westerly gales； with the wind shrieking in from across the Atlantic。 Across three thousand miles of water it came； building up its strength unimpeded on its way； and heaping up the sea into racing mountain ridges which came crashing in upon the Spanish coast in thunder and spray。 Hornblower stood on the headland above Ferrol harbour； holding his worn greatcoat about him as he leaned forward into the wind to keep his footing。 So powerful was the wind that it was difficult to breathe while facing it。 If he turned his back he could breathe more easily； but then the wind blew his wild hair forward over his eyes； almost inverted his greatcoat over his head； and furthermore forced him into littl