'When he was no longer required by the Royal Navy, Admiral Watkiss entered Chilean service as their naval Commander-in-Chief. Captain Halfhyde had previously rescued Watkiss from his disillusioned superiors, but now a coup has returned the Admiral to favour and he is in command of the Chilean battleship ALMIRANTE SMITH, proceeding to Portsmouth to take part in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee fleet review. Halfhyde's almost impossible task - with the attendant risk of murder and mayhem - is to keep Watkiss safe and out of trouble during Her Majesty's presence at Spithead off the Isle of Wight.' (Publication summary)