Chapter 4 Summary

Aubrey learns of his proposed future and readily accepts. Surprise is handed over to Pullings to command and Pullings and Aubrey establish several rendezvous points and dates. Standish begs off future sea service due his extreme seasickness; Aubrey, feeling the man to be wholly incompetent anyway, gladly accepts the resignation. Aubrey, Maturin, Blaine, and Standish then voyage overland from Lisbon to Corunna. Along the way an army officer overhears Standish's violin playing and, being a lover of music, hires Standish as his personal secretary. Aubrey, Maturin, and Blaine then board Nimble, a packet, and return to England. In England, Lord Melville reinstates Aubrey to his previous rank of post captain with no loss of seniority and then appoints him to command Diane. While Aubrey is being reinstated, Maturin attempts to set his banking situation into order but is only partially successful.

Later, Aubrey...