Major Richard Sharpe awaits the new campaign with grim expectancy Victory depends on the fragile alliance between Britain and Spain, an alliance to be maintained at any cost Pierre Ducos, the wily French Intelligence officer, sees a chance to destroy the alliance and gain a personal revenge on Sharpe and, when the lovely spy La Marchesa enters the game, Sharpe is enmeshed in a web of political intrigue for which his military training has left him unprepared Soon he is a fugitive, hunted by ally and enemy alike