Cape Town aboard Suffolk. In the last few handwritten pages that follow the end of the typescript, the full squadron arrives at the southwest coast of Africa. While the ships remain docked in the town of Loando (modern-day Luanda, Angola) to refit after storm damage, the squadron's officers and families take up residence in a Portuguese military headquarters building. Stephen returns from ship's business to find Miller again visiting Christine, which Miller had done almost every day, bringing her flowers. After Stephen shows Miller the door, Christine asks him to intervene and convey her wish to Miller that the uninvited visits should stop. Leyton orders the squadron to prepare for an exercise at sea. Stephen is in the town, accompanied by Harding and Jacob, when he meets Miller and delivers Christine's message. In response, Miller calls Stephen a liar and strikes him, and Stephen calmly calls him out. Miller demands pistols but Maturin stands upon his right, as the aggrieved party, to name the weapons; they will duel with swords. In response to Miller's complaints that he knows nothing of swords, Admiral Leyton and Miller's own seconds agree that the terms are fair, and that Miller must accept the challenge or be forever disgraced. The duel takes place, and with three or four thrusts Stephen disarms Miller and demands Miller's apology at swordpoint, which is given. At the end of the manuscript, we observe Miller at sea on Leyton's flagship. Disrespected even by his own servant, Miller takes to his cabin, avoiding company and his duties on deck. He is seen to be sweating profusely and changing his uniform with uncommon frequency, apparently deeply disturbed by his loss of face in the duel. Characters See also Recurring characters in the Aubrey–Maturin series Jack Aubrey – Rear-Admiral of the Blue Squadron, aboard HMS Suffolk. Stephen Maturin – ship's surgeon, natural philosopher, friend to Jack and an intelligence officer. The Most Reverend Doctor Samuel Mputa – Papal Nuncio to the Republic of Argentina, and Jack's natural son with Sally Mputa. Sophia Aubrey – Wife of Jack and mother of their three children. Charlotte and Fanny Aubrey – twin daughters of Sophia and Jack Aubrey. George Aubrey – their son, who is midshipman on another ship. Brigid Maturin – Stephen's daughter by his late wife, Diana Villiers. Christine Wood – Widow and an expert naturalist and anatomist; she received a marriage proposal from