They walloped him with a shovel and a stick until they had knocked him unconscious The innkeeper sent servants out to carry the young man inside They placed d’Artagnan on a bed and wrapped a ragged bandage around his head Then the innkeeper hurried to the nobleman’s side Are you safe and sound Excellency he asked Perfectly the man said Seeing a hothead bashed about does me little harm Will he recover He will the innkeeper said He even rallied enough to call out challenges to you We went through his things He has enough money to stay in our care for a bit and he carries a letter for Monsieur de Treville The nobleman looked at the innkeeper sharply Are you sure Oh yes the man said The letter is tucked in his cloak in the pile of his things in the kitchen 6
Thank you the nobleman said Please get my horse And so the nobleman prepared to leave after a quick visit to the inn’s kitchen D’Artagnan rallied enough to stagger to a window intending to demand the nobleman meet him in a duel He saw the nobleman on his horse talking to a beautiful woman in a carriage D’Artagnan was so distracted by the young woman that he forgot everything else He leaned far out the window for a better look and was able to hear a bit of their conversation Go to England Milady the nobleman ordered Notify his Eminence immediately if the Duke of Buckingham leaves London Is that all the woman asked The nobleman passed her a box There are other instructions in here Do not open it until you’ve crossed the channel Now go And you she asked 8
Paris he said Then he turned his horse and galloped down the road with the woman’s coach quickly leaving in the opposite direction Paris d’Artagnan said as he sank to the floor I will find you in Paris D’Artagnan’s wound healed quickly but his temperament improved little He found his letter missing and rushed around the inn yelling and flashing his sword Oh Monsieur the innkeeper moaned shaking The letter was surely taken by the man you challenged He seemed very upset when he heard about Monsieur de Treville Then he is a thief and I will find him in Paris d’Artagnan said mounting his yellow horse and riding away Just outside Paris d’Artagnan sold his horse and entered Paris on foot intent on seeking out Monsieur de Treville 9
