Chapters 3 and 4 Summary

Colonel Jean-Baptiste Caillard arrives at the Rosas prison and interviews Hornblower. Caillard is stiff, unyielding and holds Hornblower in obvious contempt. Caillard, like the tyrant Napoleon, denigrates his social and military inferiors and cares little or nothing for the welfare of those under his supervision. He announces that Hornblower and William Bush will be immediately transported to Paris for summary execution. Hornblower appeals that Bush's involvement in the putative piracy was constrained by orders, and thus the lieutenant should not be involved. Caillard dismisses Hornblower's appeal as irrelevant. Hornblower then argues that for the sake of humanity, the gravely-injured Bush—he lost a food during Sutherland's battle—cannot be transported for weeks. Again, Caillard dismisses Hornblower's objection as irrelevant. The Spanish warden intervenes and demands that Hornblower, as a gentleman, be allowed a personal attendant on the voyage, and...