This 19th tome of the historical naval novel series, 'A Spanish Sailor Saga', tackles the thorny and scandalous matter of the Russian squadron acquired by Fernando VII for Tsar Alexander I, a national embarrassment on such a great scale it is difficult to believe. It would be hard to find in the history of Spanish administration such a dishonest deal and one that deserves such censure and reproach. Our protagonist, rear-admiral Santiago de Leñanza, is chosen by the Lord High Admiralty as advisor on the important mission of acquiring vessels in foreign naval dockyards. As Santiago faces the professional and political rigours associated with such a delicate business, his son Francisco, fourth generation of the family who goes into the navy, sets sail in the ship 'Alexander I' and  heads for the waters of the South Seas.