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Chapters 1 and 2

• The novel opens in Hampshire, England, Captain Jack Aubrey's home in the year 1810.

• The French and the British are at war. The British naval might thus far is holding Napoleon back.

• Aubrey is on shore leave at half pay awaiting a command.

• His friend Stephen Maturin is visiting.

• Aubrey spends much of his time grinding lens for telescopes and trying to find a way to determine longitude at sea.

• Maturin is a physician of renown, a natural scientist, and a covert intelligence agent for the British crown.

• Though Aubrey is an excellent sea captain he has little knack for financial matters and the family is broke.

• Sophie, his wife, asks Maturin if he can't find a command for Aubrey so his half pay will become whole pay.

• Maturin tells Aubrey the French have a heavy presence in Mauritius and Jack will be sent with a force...

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