The Three Musketeers

D’Artagnan departs M. de Tréville’s antechamber angry and determined to find the stranger who stole his letter. In his rage, he accidentally collides with Athos and hits the musketeer in the shoulder. Athos howls in pain and chastises d’Artagnan for his behavior. Never one to back down from a challenge, d'Artagnan provides an angry retort. Incensed, Athos challenges d’Artagnan to a duel at noon by the Carmes-Deschaux monastery. D’Artagnan accepts the challenge and continues on his way.

Before d’Artagnan can leave M. de Tréville’s residence, he collides with another musketeer. This time it is Porthos; d’Artagnan attempts to get by him, but the wind blows Porthos’s cape up into d’Artagnan’s face and the two get tangled with each another. Once again, a shouting match starts up, the result of which is a duel. This time, the two agree to meet at 1 p.m. behind the Luxembourg.

Still eager to find the stranger, d’Artagnan begins asking around town whether anyone has seen him. However, he has no luck. Eventually, d’Artagnan calms down and realizes what he’s done. He’s made not one, but two musketeers angry at him; he knows both are likely capable of killing him three times over. Realizing his mistake, d’Artagnan starts to think about how to get on the musketeers’ good side. While pondering the matter, he spots Aramis talking to three of the king’s guards. As Aramis talks, a handkerchief falls out of his pocket. D’Artagnan sees the handkerchief fall and realizes that this is his moment to start to make amends with the musketeers.

D’Artagnan approaches the four men and immediately realizes that he is not welcome. Nonetheless, he bends down and picks up the handkerchief, which is under Aramis’s foot. As he does so, he notices that Aramis does not move his foot to help him. Still, he proceeds with the task and then politely hands the handkerchief to Aramis. Immediately, the other men begin to make fun of Aramis because the handkerchief belongs to Madame de Bois-Tracy, a married woman.

Aramis tries to convince the other guards that the handkerchief is not his, but they don’t believe him. Soon afterward, their conversation ends, and Aramis goes off on his own. D’Artagnan follows him and tries to make amends. However, Aramis is still annoyed and so he chastises d’Artagnan. At first, d’Artagnan remains amiable, but before long he becomes angry once again. Unsurprisingly, their argument ends when Aramis proposes a duel and d’Artagnan accepts. This one is set to take place near Monsieur de Tréville’s residence at 2 p.m. As he walks away from this encounter, d’Artagnan thinks to himself that if he is to be killed, at least it will be by a musketeer.