Chapters 2 and 3 Summary

Maturin attends the ball and passes the time watching other people and examining the potted plants. Villiers attends and is resplendent in her new gown and the Blue Peter diamond; various men comment on her exceptional beauty and Maturin finds her grace irresistible. Aubrey attends and broods through the early evening. He then meets a young woman, Amanda Smith. Smith dotes on Aubrey, finding him easily seduced and socially important. Aubrey drinks more than he should and begins to find Smith remarkably attractive. After much regaling and small talk, Aubrey comments on Nelson's Maxim—"Never mind manoeuvres; always go straight at 'em"—and Smith interprets this in a seductive and sexual manner. They leave the ball and search for a secluded spot, even as Smith, impressed with Aubrey's tales of violent combat, is frightened out of her wits by...