A mysterious prisoner dies while trying to escape from the prison of Fort-Lévêque. Nicolas le Floch's investigation on the murder of the stranger will lead him right in the middle of an espionage case involving the Minister of the Navy, Monsieur de Sartine, who will stop at nothing to establish the supremacy of the French fleet in the war against the English.

A mysterious prisoner dies while trying to escape from the prison of Fort-Lévêque. Nicolas le Floch's investigation on the murder of the stranger will lead him right in the middle of an espionage case involving the Minister of the Navy, Monsieur de Sartine, who will stop at nothing to establish the supremacy of the French fleet in the war against the English.

1777: France and England are at war over the independence of the United States. Nicolas le Floch, missioned by Louis the 14th to spy on the Duke of Chartres, who has his sights on the admiralty, witnesses the latter's cowardice in combat. He reports the facts to the king who nominates his cousin General of the light cavalry instead ... Le Floch has just made a mortal enemy out of him.

1777: France and England are at war over the independence of the United States. Nicolas le Floch, missioned by Louis the 14th to spy on the Duke of Chartres, who has his sights on the admiralty, witnesses the latter's cowardice in combat. He reports the facts to the king who nominates his cousin General of the light cavalry instead ... Le Floch has just made a mortal enemy out of him.