Chapter 47: The Council of the Musketeers

Summary

     This chapter is incredibly awesome. It also makes it harder to remember that Athos tried to hang Milady before she even became an evil spy, because he is just so great in this chapter. Let’s go back to the Fearsome Four in the bastion. Remember, they are eating breakfast on a small table in the middle of the ruined bastion and dead bodies. First things first, they take guns and bullets from the dead bodies, quite casually, and load them and keep them ready. Then, they break the news to d’Artagnan that Milady has permission from the cardinal to kill d’Artagnan. He is terrified – don’t blame him – but just then, Grimaud begins making urgent signals. Athos permits him to speak for the time being, but only in brief sentences. There is a troop of twenty enemies approaching! 

     Athos coolly finishes his glass of wine, and then grabs his rifle. Most of the enemies are just civilians though, and only four are actual soldiers. Aramis points out that firing on the civilians would not be very kind. Good job, Captain Obvious. Or I guess it would be M. Obvious? Athos, surprisingly, agrees that killing them without a warning would be harsh. So, he stands up and courteously asks them to allow the Musketeers to finish their breakfast. D’Artagnan nervously points out that the civilians are ignoring him and raising their guns. Athos argues that they are very bad marksmen, so who cares? Indeed, they try to shoot Athos but the bullets all miss him. Good grief! Funny-but-crazy Athos is back in full force. Then, the Fearsome Four get out their rifles, and after some of the troop fall dead, the rest of them flee. Athos invites Porthos, Aramis, and d’Artagnan to continue breakfasting.

     D’Artagnan resumes their previous conversation, asking what Milady is doing now. Athos casually tells him that she has already left to assassinate the duke. D’Artagnan is horrified, but Athos cares little, and instructs Grimaud to make a flag and put it up above their table. Grimaud, apparently used to these kinds of random and demanding orders, finds a napkin and fashions it into a flag. He hangs it above the little table, and it waves proudly above the breakfasters, probably looking strange in the middle of the ruins and dead bodies. Seeing the flag, the crowd cheers. Wow, why are they still here? Do they really enjoy watching people eat? 

     D’Artagnan says that the duke gave them nice horses, so they ought not to abandon them. Porthos agrees, approving of the saddles that the duke has provided (he is wearing the lace from his saddle on his cloak at that very moment). Athos shows everyone the note that he stole from Milady. Then, he lazily predicts that d’Artagnan will soon find himself in jail, and the three Musketeers will be imprisoned along with him to ensure he isn’t lonely. Just then, a large troop of soldiers arrives. Athos, calm as ever, makes a battle plan. They each will pick a soldier and kill him, then pick the one behind him and kill him also, and continue until they run out of bullets. Then, all four will run to the wall, which is precariously constructed, and push it down on the remaining soldiers. The plan works! ...Um, how?! That was the worst plan ever! Nevertheless, only a few soldiers escape. The Fearsome Four then discuss what to do about Milady. Athos keeps shooting down everyone else's plans, which are rather badly thought through.

     Suddenly, they hear drums being sounded, and realize than an entire regiment is being sent to attack them. Athos promptly tells Grimaud to prop up the dead bodies so it looks like they have a whole regiment too. Poor Grimaud! He does so, and the Musketeers continue chatting. Uh, do they really think they can take on a whole regiment? Athos has a good plan about Milady – they will write letters to Lord de Winter and the Queen informing them of Milady’s nefarious plan. Lord de Winter obviously likes d’Artagnan and may help; and the queen definitely will help. The Musketeers volunteer their servants to do this job. Meanwhile, the army approaches. Grimaud has also finished setting up the bodies. He has set them up with attitude – some are posing so they look angry and sassy, and others look very determined. That is just too cute. The Fearsome Four compliment his imagination. Then, they decide that they will retreat after all – how can they fight a whole regiment? 

     D’Artagnan, Grimaud, Aramis, and Porthos kind of speed-walk, scared, but Athos strolls along at a majestically unhurried pace. The others realize that he won’t move faster, so they sheepishly slow down to join him. Then Athos rather stupidly decides to 'rescue' the shabby little napkin-flag that Grimaud made, risking his life for it. Somehow, he makes it unscathed, but he is finally forced to run in order to survive. The regiment continues to fire at the corpses. Imagine their faces when they realize they are shooting their own dead men! The adventure causes a pleasant uproar at camp. The cardinal hears a garbled version of the tale, and mistakenly believes that they must be on his side. The cardinal is so glad that he finally allows d’Artagnan to officially become a Musketeer! The Fearsome Four is ecstatic. D’Artagnan also finally sells the Queen’s ring and gets quite an amount of money from the transaction.

Reaction

     This chapter was highly enjoyable to read. We have our lovable characters back! Dumas is back to his relatable humor! D’Artagnan doesn’t annoy me! Athos is the leader again! I approve of all of these changes greatly. I think their plan for stopping Milady might work – it depends on how much Lord de Winter trusts his sister-in-law. If he suspects that she is a spy that assassinates people for a living, he would be more willing to stop her. I have sympathy for Queen Anne, but to be honest, I don’t think she will be of much help. She is a nice lady, but she has very little power in her life. I hope they asks one of her friends for help, as also suggested. Athos was insane this chapter, but insane in a good way. Grimaud was also amazing. The servants all better survive this novel.

     My favorite line was, of course from Athos: “Gentlemen, a few friends and myself are about to breakfast in this bastion. Now, you know nothing is more disagreeable than being disturbed when one is at breakfast. We request you, then, if you really have business here, to wait till we have finished or repast, or to come again a short time hence, unless; unless, which would be far better, you form the salutary resolution to quit the side of the rebels, and come and drink with us to the health of the King of France.” Athos, you brazen little beast.