The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

Chapter 21 is entitled "The Countess de Winter" but we don't meet or even see her. You may remember that in an earlier chapter, Richelieu gave an order concerning the Duke and now we see how it played out. What do you think of this plot and Buckingham's solution?

I have read and seen this story multiple times and only this time found a problem with this chapter. D'Artagnan doesn't speak English. There is no reason he would (although I would guess that Athos and Aramis do), and we learn he was terrible at Latin. Buckingham has to explain to him what "Forward" means as the password. However, he understands what the Duke is doing with his jeweler. Buckingham undoubtedly spoke perfect French, but he wouldn't have spoken it to his Irish jeweler. Maybe it's just that d'Artagnan understood the general idea of what the Duke was doing when he is amazed at the power of Buckingham. Not a big deal overall, but an example of how details are unimportant to both Dumas and the reader when the plot is humming along.

What do you think of the relationship between d'Artagnan and Buckingham as adversaries who respect and like each other but would be happy to kill each other in battle?

What was your reaction when the Queen failed to wear the diamond studs and yet turned up with them later? And the quick reaction of the Cardinal? Once again, the King is oblivious to what is really happening.

In Chapter 23, did you suspect the mysterious letter? In this chapter and the next, we see more of the character of Planchet. Does he seem a good match for his master?

in this section, d'Artagnan shows his detective skills, which will reappear later in the series. He finds footprints and pieces of evidence and interviews a witness. He notices the mud on his landlord's boots matches his own. This was close to the period of early detective stories from Edgar Allan Poe and Wilkie Collins.

Chapter 25 starts the process of reuniting with d'Artagnan's friends. How does Porthos' situation show us more about his character? What do we learn about Mousqueton and his abilities?

Buckingham has an entire shrine devoted to queen Ann and I find that a little disturbing. Having a life size portrait of her I can see, but the whole chapel with all the candles - ugh :/ - this is where the obsession goes too far for me. He spares no expense to procure the diamonds not only as a sign of his love for the queen, but also because he feels guilty he allowed them to be stolen in the first place. When he mentions Countess de Winter the duke says she is a ‘jealous woman’ - perhaps that’s a hint that he had an affair with her.

The fact that D'Artagnan doesn't speak English at this point, but somehow conveniently does later in the book is another example of how Dumas changes his mind or forgets what he had written before.
I always notice little inconsistencies like this and they always annoy me a bit.

I think D’Artagnan likes and respects Buckingham as a person. They are supposed to be enemies, but I doubt they would kill each other if they met on the battlefield.

The diamond scene with the queen and the cardinal is legendary - some variation of this story makes its way into every musketeer movie I’ve ever seen. I loved it when queen Ann says the two diamonds must have cost Richelieu more than the other 12 cost the king.
D’Artagnan saves the day, the queen gives him a large rock, the duke sends him 4 expensive horses, Constance is about to show him her gratitude ;)
He truly is on top of the world and all is well...until it isn’t.

This is the part of the book where Mr Bonacieux completely crosses over to the dark side. I’m not sure how he knew exactly where his wife was planning to be - I assume he somehow managed to read the letter before D’Artagnan did. Dumas does a great job building suspense.
Things get dark for a while until the chapter about Porthos, which is rather comical.

I love how you summarized this Ana! As far as how Bonacieux knew, I assumed he put the letter into d'Artagnan's rooms, all the while knowing he was going with the Cardinal's men. I don't know if we find out later how he got it, or if his wife asked him to deliver it (she should have known better by that time). If I hadn't read this before, I would have assumed the letter was forged and it was all a trap for d'Artagnan. He is still pretty naive and never doubted he should go to a remote place by himself. They could have sent him anywhere and waylaid Constance at any time. No need to have a dramatic kidnapping that could be seen by a witness (although they didn't know there was one.) Also, why didn't they wait & capture or kill d'Artagnan? They knew he was the one who went to London since they set up all the ambushes. We even find out in the last chapter, at the inn where Porthos is recovering, that the attackers knew the name of the person they were chasing.

I was surprised that this was not a trap with D’Artagnan as the intended victim of capture as well.
I was also surprised that Treville had to suggest to D’Artagnan that he should maybe go in search of his missing friends!
I enjoyed the character portrayals of Porthos and Planchet. The dialogue was funny and revealing.

I agree. The first time I read the book I expected the letter to be a set up for D’Artagnan. Now I think Constance was abducted mainly to punish the queen. It seems the cardinal has other plans for D’Artagnan, that’s why no one has been ordered to kill him (yet).

What do you think of the relationship between d'Artagnan and Buckingham as adversaries who respect and like each other but would be happy to kill each other in battle?

I think the dynamics of this relationship are interesting. The word I would use to describe it is chivalry. There seems to be in general a respect for each other.

How refreshing - two people who can strongly disagree yet respect each other as human beings!!

Jenny wrote: "How refreshing - two people who can strongly disagree yet respect each other as human beings!!"

I was thinking that too. There was some of that among generals in the American Civil War who had attended West Point military academy together before the war and were now on opposite sides.

"Not a big deal overall, but an example of how details are unimportant to both Dumas and the reader when the plot is humming along."

Very true, as D'Artagnan is presented as something of a doughhead at the start, and shortly after as the brains of the outfit.

Yes, he was presented as very naive and ignorant of all the political factions and also impulsive. Now he is able to create and carry out long-term plans.

I don't understand why they took away Constance and they did not set a trap for D'Artagnan. I don't remember much of the story from the movies and if we will discover it later on.
I wonder why the Queen gave Buckingham something so valuable and so notable, no less than twelve objects, could she have given him only the wooden box? :-D

This section continues the excitement, and I didn't pick up on the English-French issue-well spotted!

I also missed the detective side of d'Artagnan, but had wondered about his sudden skill at planning, and yet his lack of interest in following his friends-perhaps his own exciting adventures and his first love affair put them out of his mind temporarily.

I continue to enjoy tracing all the routes and neighbourhoods he travels through.