Martin Jerrold is now a Captain... of a stinking prison hulk full of poor French prisoners of war. This wild adventure opens even more hilariously than the last one, with Jerrold quite happy to be safe from bodily harm and in possession of a large cabin where he can entertain his "cousin", the very capable Isobel. During such a visit, Jerrold is called away to see to a possible escape attempt, and then a true escape when his French translator is found missing. Also missing is Isobel's dress. And the razor blade Jerrold had loaned the privileged prisoner. And then an imperious Major of the Horse-Guards arrives, urgently wanting to see the escaped man--and he gets Jerrold's superior to demote him and order him to find the prisoner or face getting drummed out of the Navy.
Not that Jerrold doesn't think leaving the Navy would be a bad idea, but the humiliation and the problem with actually making a living at something else leaves him with little choice other than to chase the prisoner. He faces the First Lord of the Admiralty (who keeps Jerrold's uncle too cowed to rip into Jerrold), and muck and mire with only one set of clothes and one boot, and mysterious ladies and men of Carlton House and politicians of the opposition--all who want the prisoner, but none of whom are exactly sure WHY the prisoner is so important.
Fortunately, Jerrold has a friend in the Post Office!
As before, Jerrold is mostly on land, around Plymouth, Dartmoor, Brighton and London, and aside from his habitual state, only occasionally at sea. The politics and historical detail are very good. And Jerrold provides the comic relief without being a total buffoon. As before, he is not stupid and actually has curiosity that not only leads him into hazard, but is good in a sleuth. And he truly does not want the crazy adventures that he falls into, but Jerrold is definitely a man who will often not receive what he desires!
Although, he's survived, and he's got the unflappable and intelligent Isobel, so perhaps he is not quite as hapless and luckless as he seems.
I enjoyed the adventure and the mystery. I could guess at what the secret was towards the end, since I was somewhat familiar with the period, but it was all good fun and quite an enjoyable read.
