Diana is pregnant. Stephen offers to marry her but she refuses because it’s not his child.

Jack is given a fresh command, HMS Ariel, with a mission to subvert the Catalan garrison of Grimsholm island, guarding the passage between Denmark and Sweden. But on the voyage home the Ariel is shipwrecked off the coast of Brittany.

Jack and Stephen are taken prisoner by the French and transported to Paris for interrogation – where Stephen is accused of being a spy.

Starring David Robb, Richard Dillane and Candida Benson.

Patrick O’Brian's historical novel dramatised by Roger Danes

Captain Jack Aubrey ...... David Robb
Dr Stephen Maturin ...... Richard Dillane
Diana Villiers ...... Candida Benson
Lt. Jagiello ...... Tom Cawte
Lt. Cornelius Hyde. ...... Carl Prekopp
Sir Joseph Blaine ...... Struan Rodger
Killick ...... Jon Glover
Bonden ...... Sam Dale
Major Clapier ...... Stephen Hogan
Admiral Dommet ...... Tony Turner
Captain Babbington ...... Don Gilet
Sophie Aubrey ...... Jeanette Percival
Amanda Smith ...... Emma Handy
Rowbotham ...... Liam Lau Fernandez

Other parts played by the cast.

Director: Bruce Young

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2018. Show less