Chapters 7 and 8 Summary

In time, Maturin is identified as the intelligence officer—a fact that he is made aware of by Wogan's sudden change in behavior toward him. Johnson continues to attempt to recruit Maturin and makes a thinly veiled threat that if Maturin does not come over as a double agent the French agents will be allowed a free hand. As Maturin mulls over his gloomy future, Aubrey watches HMS Shannon make her daily observational foray into the bay. Aubrey admires the way Broke handles Shannon and contemplates his own past history with Broke at some length. Then Maturin asks Aubrey to ask Mr. Herapath to obtain some pistols to be used for protection. One afternoon Maturin goes to call on Johnson and is assaulted by Pontet-Canet and French thugs—they attempt to drag him into a waiting coach but the...