His beloved aristocratic lover, Lady Grace Hale, died in childbirth, along with their newborn son.

Destitute and relegated to the menial job of quartermaster, Sharpe is on the streets of London, contemplating leaving the army.

Lord Pumphrey of the Foreign Office gives Sharpe (but not Lavisser) a contact in case he runs into trouble.

Napoleon wants it to replace the ships France lost at the Battle of Trafalgar, and Britain is equally determined to see to it that does not happen.

Lavisser turns out to be in the employ of the French; he and his men torture Skovgaard for the names of his contacts throughout Europe.

Sharpe, by now knowing the general layout of Copenhagen, sneaks a small force into the city and guides them to the Danish ships, which have been prepared for burning in case the British break in.

Meanwhile, Sharpe goes to Skovgaard's, only to find he has been captured and tortured again by Lavisser, who obtains the names of the British spies.

Lord Pumphrey has Sharpe sent back to England as soon as possible, as he does not want the rifleman to learn that he must have the Skovgaards killed; they know too much.