Chapter 10 Summary

Polychrest returns to the channel and Maturin goes ashore for a rendezvous with Diana. As typical, she treats him first kindly then shabbily. She talks about Canning. Maturin and Diana both pretend that Aubrey is not a man of concern to them. Maturin then calls on Sophia who is a houseguest of Admiral Haddock. Sophia and Maturin exchange news. Maturin again advises her to be more forward with Aubrey but she demurely declines. Maturin then embarks on a months-long intelligence voyage; upon his return he is tanned and hale but delivers a cover story of having been in Ireland. He rejoins the ship and meets Smithers, Macdonald's young replacement. Smithers makes wisecracks about Diana, unaware of Maturin's interest. Maturin defends her honor and then a card game ensues where Maturin wins over a year's wages from the young gentleman. Maturin then finds Aubrey...