Major Richard
Sharpe, a great British soldier, seems to have bad terms with his beautiful
second wife, Jane, over the duelling with Captain Bampfylde. Duelling is against
the law and Sharpe has bruised the buttocks of Bampfylde, who in the previous
Novel (Sharpe’s Siege) runs away with the ship leaving Sharpe in the mid of
danger. His wife Jane is doubtful about her husband’s arrest or he may lose his
life as well. And she never likes insecurities.
To tone down
her fears, Sharpe gives her access of his money and instructs her to buy a
country home in Dorset and he will join her after the war is over. It is 1814
and the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte is imminent. Under the command of General
Nairn, Sharpe takes part in the Battle of Toulouse, during the battle General
Nairn is killed and Sharpe unwillingly takes the command of the battalion in
his hand. They win the war. Subsequently, Napoleon, almost defeated, escapes to
Elba with some of his best fighters. After the war, in the company of Patrick
Harper and Frederickson, Sharpe advances to Bordeaux with his men. From there
he intends to get transported to England. It is here that he learns that Jane
has closed his account after withdrawing eighteen thousand pounds; he grows a
bit suspicious about her fidelity but also remains hopeful.
Instead of
getting great compliments for the war, Sharpe and his ally William Frederickson
are framed for stealing the treasure of Napoleon. Hence, they are arrested. All
the false evidences are designed by his arch rival - Major Pierre Ducos.
However, Sharpe knows that their charges can be diluted if they manage to bring
the French commander Henri Lasan, who then was the commander of the fort where
the treasure was located. To prove themselves clear, Sharpe and William
Frederickson run away with the help of Patrick Harper and Captain Peter
d’Alembord. They go on to find Henri Lasan.
Jane ignoring
Sharpe’s instruction, rather buys an expensive town house in Cork Street in
London. When she learns about his arrest, Jane approaches his closest ally -
Lord John Rossendale for help. But instead they become lovers caring least
about Sharpe and the allegations he is facing. On the other side, when Sharpe
and his two men arrive at Normandy, Henri Lasan’s native place, they are
attacked by his widowed sister Lucille Castineau. Because she thinks that his
brother Henri was killed by English riflemen, however in the attack Sharpe gets
injured badly. Before their arrival, Henri Lasan and his mother were killed by
the men who wore green uniform, like the British soldiers. But in reality,
those men belonged to Major Pierre Ducos, who now illegally owns the treasure
of Napoleon.
Patrick Harper
returns to London to contact Jane and William Frederickson leaves for Paris to
trace the whereabouts of Pierre Ducos. Sharpe being injured remains in the
company of Lucille Castineau. But soon they become lovers but keep the matter
secret.
Harper
confirms the infidelity of Jane upon returning from London. Frederickson sends
the word about Ducos’ new location. In the pursuit of Ducos, all three men head
for Naples, in Italy, where Ducos is hiding with the treasure. Ducos has
changed his name and with the help of the local cardinal, he is living on a
hill top with some ferocious armed men at his service.
On their route
they meet General Calvet, a high-status warrior from the Napoleon army, who
along a troop is also searching for the treasure. To fight Ducos, they form an
alliance. After defeating Ducos’ men and fooling the local cardinal’s army,
General Calvet with the treasure and Sharpe with his men escape from the city.
Later, Sharpe parts with his two men and goes back to Normandy, where pregnant
Lucille Castineau is waiting for him.
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