Chapter 5 and 6 Summary

Aubrey and some of the squadron return to Cape Town where Raisonable is retired, and Aubrey moves his flag to Boadicea. At Cape Town the British officials and Admiral Bertie are all enthusiastic about Aubrey's early and rapid successes. Various plans are made and the ships refit. Maturin and McAdam continue to discuss Clonfert's psychosomatic illness and refine their palliative treatment. Indeed, Clonfert's condition and characterization are presented in great and lengthy detail. Maturin writes a lengthy journal entry in which he muses about Clonfert, about the nature of courage, makes statements about his own deep depression, and wonders about the nature and rationale of addiction. Maturin continues to use opium—laudanum—in heroic quantities. Meanwhile McAdam continues his alcoholism; both men find the other's addiction distasteful. News arrives of the capture and re-capture of various ships; rumors about...