 Calvet contacts the cardinal, hoping to prevent the English from reaching the treasure before him, but the cardinal makes arrangements to confiscate the gold himself.Sharpe, Harper and Frederickson are intercepted by Calvet, and the former adversaries form an alliance; Sharpe will help to retrieve the gold for Napoleon in return for clearing his name.The combined force successfully infiltrate Ducos's villa, capturing the gold and Ducos himself, but before they can leave the cardinal's forces surround the villa, cutting off access to the sea where Calvet's boats wait.