The Yellow Admiral

Jack Aubrey, now a considerable though impoverished landowner, is feuding with his neighbour and is on even worse terms with his wife, Sophie. Even Jack's exploits at sea turn sour: in the storm waters off Brest, he captures a French privateer laden with gold and ivory, but this at the expense of missing a signal and deserting his post.Worst of all, in the spring of 1814, peace breaks out, and this feeds into Jack's private fear about his career: the prospect of being "yellowed", or nominally promoted to the rank of admiral without any squadron to command.

Fortunately, Stephen Maturin returns from a mission in France with the news that the Chileans, to secure their independence, require a navy and the service of English officers. Jack is savouring this apparent reprieve for his career, as well as Sophie's forgiveness, when he receives an urgent dispatch ordering him to Gibraltar - Napoleon has escaped from Elba.