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〃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 and Russia must mean war； real actual war with England this time； Bonaparte would be satisfied with nothing less。 The sight of British topsails on the horizon； the knowledge that war would mean instant blockade； instant capture of every ship that ventured out； constant harassing of all their shores； might be a powerful argument at their councils。 Bonaparte might be at their frontiers； but England would be at their doors。 Hornblower made his decision。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said。 〃I think it is my duty to convey you to Russia in this squadron。 I can offer you the hospitality of this ship； if you would be kind enough to accept it。〃
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Despite the fact that he was a peer and a guardsman； despite his little red moustache and his funny pop…eyes and his ludicrous appearance in uniform； Wychwood was a shrewd and experienced man of the world。 At thirty…five he had visited two…thirds of the Courts of Europe； he was familiar with their intrigues； knew their weaknesses and their strengths； the military power of which they could dispose； their prejudices and their traditions。 He sat （at Hornblower's invitation） in Hornblower's cabin while a brisk westerly wind sent the squadron rolling and pitching up the Baltic。 Basse was incapacitated in his berth with seasickness； so that they were not embarrassed by his presence … Wychwood's cheeks were a little pale as well； and his manner occasionally hinted at an inward preoccupation； but he controlled himself manfully。
〃Boney's weakness；〃 said Wychwood； 〃is that he thinks all the opposition in the world can be dissolved by force。 Often he's right； of course； you have only to look back at his career to see that。 But sometimes he is wrong。 People would rather fight … would rather die … than be slaves to his will any longer。〃
〃Spain showed that；〃 said Hornblower。
〃Yes。 But with Russia it still may be different。 Russia is the Tsar； much more definitely than Spain was the Bourbon monarchy。 If Alexander chooses to submit to Boney's threats； Russia will submit。 Alexander's swallowed insults enough already。〃
〃He's swallowed other things besides insults；〃 said Hornblower dryly。
〃Finland； you mean？ That's perfectly true。 And all the other Baltic provinces； Lithuania and Courland and so on。 You know better than I do how much difference that makes to the security of St Petersburg … I find it hard to blame him for it。 At home； of course； his attack on Finland roused a good deal of feeling。 I hope they forget it if he bees our ally。〃
〃And what are the chances of that？〃
〃God knows。 If he can be sure of the Swedish alliance he may fight。 And that depends on whether Bernadotte is willing to submit to having Pomerania taken away from him。〃
〃Bonaparte made a false step there；〃 said Hornblower。
〃Yes； by God！ The British colours are like a red rag to a bull to him。 You have only to show them to get him to charge。 The way you destroyed that ship … what was her name？ … the Blanchefleur under his very nose must have driven him crazy。 If anything makes the Swedes fight； it'll be that。〃
〃Let's hope it does；〃 said Hornblower； decidedly forted。
He knew he had taken a bold step when he went in to destroy the Blanchefleur； if the subsequent political repercussions should be unfavourable he might well be called to account。 His only justification would be the final event； a more cautious man would have held back and contented himself with keeping the privateer under observation。 Probably that would have resulted in her slipping clean away the first foggy night； to resume her ravages among British shipping； but no man could be held responsible for fog。 And if Sweden became an active enemy all England would clamour for the head of the officer they deemed responsible。 Yet e what might he could not but feel that he had taken the best course in proving that England had the power to strike and would not hesitate to use it。 There were few occasions in history when timidity was wis