Realising that Blas Vivar is not a prisoner in Valdivia, Sharpe confronts Cochrane, who admits that he took the Spaniard prisoner. Cochrane is plotting to rescue Napoleon, so the Corsican can create another empire in the New World.
Sharpe discovers that Blas Vivar isn't imprisoned in Valdivia and confronts Cochrane, who confesses to capturing the Spaniard. Cochrane intends to free Napoleon so the Corsican can build a new empire in the Americas.