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
2 The Audience Many years before Monsieur de Treville had arrived in Paris from Gascony He had great plans and little money much like d’Artagnan Treville was poor but he was brave and smart and had become a friend and adviser of the king of France The king’s most trusted adviser was Cardinal Richelieu His power made him a dangerous rival for the king So the king and the cardinal looked for ways to best the other Each man secretly encouraged fighting between their personal guards The king placed Treville in charge of the King’s Musketeers and stressed the importance of loyalty and skill in these guards The 10
Musketeers were loud impulsive and joyfully violent It was into this group of rowdies that d’Artagnan stepped as he entered the courtyard of Treville’s house D’Artagnan stared around him wide eyed He watched dueling games and heard endless bragging He was especially surprised at the rude way the Musketeers talked about the cardinal D’Artagnan’s family admired both the king and the cardinal D’Artagnan was relieved when he was finally called to Treville’s quarters The older man greeted d’Artagnan politely Would you wait just a moment while I deal with some others Treville asked Of course d’Artagnan answered with a slight bow The captain of the Musketeers walked to the door and called out Athos Porthos Aramis Two of the Musketeers d’Artagnan had seen outside stepped in and stood with dignity The cardinal has complained of you to the king 11
