Chapters 1-5 Summary

Stopping for dinner in Chichester en route to Portsmouth and deployment to America, Lt. John Montraville and fellow officer Belcour admire schoolgirls emerging from church. Montraville recognizes Charlotte Tempe from years before and wonders how to meet her. After pining for three days, he sees Charlotte walking with her French teacher, whom he bribes to bring her out again next day. To Charlotte he slips a note.

Years earlier, Henry Temple, a nobleman of modest means known for generosity, is approached by Lt. Blakeney, a stranger, and introduced to Lt. Eldridge, who is imprisoned for debt. Henry is taken by Eldridge's beautiful daughter, Lucy, as he listens to the pitiful story. Eldridge serves in the navy for many years, marries at 25 and has two children. He borrows money from a Mr. Lewis to buy his son, George, an army commission. The...