The Three Musketeers - Chapter 16-20

[Robin P, Moderator]

This turned out to be another excellent stopping point for a section. In this section we see the instigation and the culmination of d'Artagnan's journey to England, with plenty of action along the way.

What do you think of the Cardinal's manipulation of the King? It seems the real players here are the Cardinal and the Queen, with the King a sort of puppet between them. My understanding is that the whole plot of the diamond studs is Dumas' invention, and it's a good one.

What do we learn about the relationship between M. and Mme. Bonacieux? Luckily, he isn't astute enough to keep his new alliance to himself.

We learn a bit more about Aramis and his secrets. D'Artagnan has come a long way from the country boy amazed at the intrigues of court. He seems to know more than an insider like Aramis.

The journey is an iconic part of the story. I had forgotten it was so quickly told. I think the speed of it reflects the speed of travel. What does it say about the Cardinal's reach and power that multiple ambushes spring up so quickly along the way? What do you think of d'Artagnan's method of acquiring the necessary papers in Calais? Here we have another person wounded, maybe killed, with little concern.

What are your thoughts on this section of intrigue and adventure?

[Ana]

Robin P wrote: "the journey is an iconic part of the story. I had forgotten it was so quickly told. I think the speed of it reflects the speed of travel..."

Great point, Robin. I was thinking the same - the pace of this section is amazing. It feels like reading a script for an action movie.

Poor Comte de Wardes. I know he's an agent of the Cardinal and we are supposed to dislike him, but I feel bad for him. I think d'Artagnan feels guilty for injuring him, but not for assuming his identity ;)

[Frances, Moderator]

This was a very exciting section, which shows the development of Artagnan from a rather naive young man into a particularly skillful campaigner-thinks very quickly on his feet, knows when to accept someone else's advice, and more surprisingly was quite quick to leave his friends behind to face possible death without appearing to have any qualms about it. It is unbelievable just how lightly life was taken-even hearing the Musketeers say Let's go and get killed where we're told. as they set off on their adventure. This is what I'm finding hardest to enjoy or ignore-the ease with which they all wound and/or kill each other, often over trifles.

Mme Bonacieux is increasingly interesting-my heart was in my mouth hearing her speak with her husband that she would betray her secret to him. She was rather pathetically slow to realize that he couldn't be trusted.

I've dug out my old Paris par Arrondissement guide (must be 35 years old and quite battered from my few months living there) and am enjoying looking up all the addresses and seeing where everyone lives or goes. It really helps the story come alive.

[Hedi]

Frances, I am also looking up the places in Google Maps and even looked up maps of Paris from the 17th century. It is interesting to see the Louvre and the other places in those days compared to today.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Great idea, as Dumas mentions lots of street names, sometimes the former and later names. Paris was much smaller then but quite congested. It only got "opened up" under Haussmann with larger boulevards and parks.

[Ana]

I need to do this :)
I always assumed the names of the streets in the book
might have been changed by now
or were fake in the first place.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Ana wrote: "I need to do this :)
I always assumed the names of the streets in the book
might have been changed by now
or were fake in the first place."

I think they all were real at some point. It's possible Dumas wasn't always correct as far as what they were called in a specific year.

[Anne]

This has always been one of my favorite sections of the book, and I wasn't able to stop myself from reading ahead to the next section. I love the action and political intrigue.

Mme. Bonacieux was awfully slow to recognize that her husband was on the cardinal's side rather than hers and the queen's. Her decision not to go home right away was definitely a bad one, as it left an opening for others to get to him first. Of course, if the characters wouldn't make bad decisions and didn't scheme against each other, there wouldn't be much of a plot, and the book wouldn't be so much fun to read.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Anne wrote: "This has always been one of my favorite sections of the book, and I wasn't able to stop myself from reading ahead to the next section. I love the action and political intrigue.

Mme. Bonacieux was ..."

Good point. Mme Bonacieux was almost fooled into giving away the queen's secret because her husband had always been so docile and unquestioning before. For instance, he followed her to people's homes just because she said they were cloth merchants. It was only after his experience with the Cardinal and his men that he tried to become sly. Fortunately, he wasn't very good at it.