The invasion of France is underway, and Wellington is approached by the Marquerre of one of the oldest families of France, who claims that he is against Bonaparte. The Marquerre also claims that the peasants in the Bordeaux region are ready to rise up against Bonaparte.

The Marquerre appears to reluctantly agree, for his castle in Bordeaux to be used as the base for the uprising.

A young and inexperienced Colonel Bampfylde (christened Bumpfylde by The Chosen Men) is commanding officer. Ross recommends that Sharpe be promoted Colonel to lead the attack, but according to Wellington Bampfylde is a young Colonel because he father is an old General.

Bampfylde and Sharpe start off on the wrong foot when the young Colonel, showing off to his peers, foolishly challenges Sharpe to a duel during dinner in the Offices Mess.

Once Bampfylde realises who the officer he has challenged actually is, Bampfylde immediately recognises his mistake. He is given a face saving way out by The Marquerre. It is an understatement to say that Sharpe is none too pleased to learn that Bampfylde is the new CO of the Prince of Wales own!

Sharpe and The Rifles are sent on reconnaissance instead of being used in support while The Prince of Wales' own disastrously attack the Castle.

Sharpe and The Chosen men sucessfully take the Castle that evening, and the French garrison surrender.

Bampfylde strides into the fallen Castle, and promptly sends Sharpe and The Chosen Men back on reconnaissance.

During their absence Bampfylde is fooled by The Marquerre and Major Ducos, (masquerading as a local Mayor) that the Bordeaux uprising is complete and to destroy the Castles defences so that they do not fall into French hands, and to return to tell Wellington the good news!

Sharpe returns to the Castle to find it deserted apart from the wounded men, abandoned by the Colonel. The Marquerre approaches under a flag of truce and reveals his true colours as a Bonaparte supporter. He is shot at he approaches his own French troops by The Chosen Men

With less than thirty rounds of ammunition per man, Sharpe manages to defeat General Calvet with some help from the Marquerre's sister. (Burning the Oyster Shells that are stored in the cellar to make Lime, which causes temporary blindness in the advancing French)

Sharpe, The Chosen Men, and The Prince of Wales Own return to camp triumphant and Bampfylde, proven to be an incompetent liar is stipped of his rank and arrested.

Trivia from this episode is that Sharpe marries Jane Gibbons (Abigail Cruttenden), who subsequently actually becomes Sean's wife.