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- 1. TITLE The Three Musketeers SUMMARY D'Artagnan,a poor but noble young man from Gascony, leaves his home to make his fortune in Paris; he is carrying a letter of introduction to his father's friend, Monsieur de Treville, captain of the King's Musketeers. On the way to Paris, d'Artagnan's impulsive nature gets him into trouble; he is beaten and the letter of introduction is taken from him. In Paris, he nevertheless is granted an interview with Monsieur de Treville, and is promised acceptance in the Royal Academy free of charge, where he can learn fencing, riding, and good manners; later, with experience, d'Artagnan, can expect to become a musketeer. While Treville, is writing a new letter of introduction, d'Artagnan glances out the window and, by accident, sees the person who robbed him. He runs after him, and while pursuing him, he offends three musketeers: first, he collides with Athos, reinjuring Athos's wounded shoulder; then he jostles Porthos and reveals a partly counterfeit golden shoulder belt that he is wearing; and finally, he offends Aramis by ungallantly and unintentionally bringing attention to a lady's handkerchief. He is challenged to a duel by each of the musketeers. After he meets the musketeers and begins dueling with Athos, they are all threatened with arrest by the dreaded cardinal's guards because of a law against dueling. D'Artagnan joins forces with the musketeers and helps drive the cardinal's men away. Thus, almost immediately after his arrival in Paris, D'Artagnan becomes an intimate friend of the three musketeers. Author Alexandre Dumas CHARACTERS Athos Wounded when d'Artagnan first meets him, Athos will later prove to be the person who wrote his memoirs about these adventurers. Aramis He is supposedly passing his time as a musketeer until the queen provides France with an heir, at which time Aramis will enter the priesthood. Porthos The most worldly of the three musketeers, Porthos is extremely proud of his worldly good looks and his fine physique, which he shows off to its best advantage by dressing to impress the women of society, who seem to fully appreciate his good looks and his
- 2. courtly attentions. Planchet d'Artagnan'sservant. He is ultimately the sharpest of the servants and serves his master well on many dangerous occasions. Grimaud Athos's servant. Because his master is mannerly and rather reticent, Grimaud is also rather reserved. Bazin Aramis's servant. Because Aramis is planning to enter the priesthood, it is only fitting that Bazin should also contemplate a future devoted to the religious life. Mousqueton Porthos's servant. Like his master, Mousqueton is the most knowledgeable about worldly things. Monsieur de Treville The captain of the King's Musketeers, he is an old friend of d'Artagnan's father; thus he will be a special protector of the youthful and impulsive d'Artagnan. King Louis XIII The king of France — but not a very strong or effective king. He resents Cardinal Richelieu, but he recognizes his dependence on this powerful man. VOCABULARY hubbub a loud confused noise fade to lose brightness contrive to plan with ingenuity partisan supporter of a person hostelry an inn or a hotel vociferous crying out noisily mendicant begging corselet armor windgall a puffy distention of yhe synovial bursa at the fetlock joint render to cause gascon braggart latter being the second mentioned of two bohemian a native or inhabitant of bohemia forbidden not allowed virtue morral excellence balsam any of various fragant exudations from certain trees
- 3. benediction an uttrtanceof good wishes prevail exist bargain an adventerous purchase