Chapter 38: How, Without Incommoding Himself, Athos Procures his Equipment

Summary

     Are you serious, Dumas? Athos’s plan works? The money does come to him? I’m kind of speechless. Anyway, the chapter begins with d’Artagnan fleeing from the Place Royale in absolute and complete terror of Milady. He doesn’t even stop and think of poor Kitty (and Dumas wants us to think that’s something new?). D’Artagnan sprints all the way to Athos’s place, where a sleepy Grimaud opens the door. Poor Grimaud is horrified to see a young girl, and breaks his silence in order to scold her. Then, the girl pulls back her hood to reveal a manly face, and Grimaud thinks he’s an assassin and begins shouting for help. So d’Artagnan must reveal his identity. Athos hears the shouts and comes in the room. He scolds Grimaud for speaking (poor Grimaud!) and then proceeds to laugh at d’Artagnan. D’Artagnan tells him to stop laughing, and to prepare himself for some sickening news. Then, he tells Athos that Milady has a fleur-de-lis brand. Athos starts as if he has been shot. Then, he describes his wife – and the description fits Milady perfectly. Oh dear. They realize that they need to flee. They are all going to lay a siege on England in a few days, and will have to travel to La Rochelle. They decide that they will not flee, and instead just use the siege as a way to escape Milady’s wrath. Planchet shows up with Grimaud, and they bring d’Artagnan some clothes to change into. Athos and d’Artagnan agree to temporarily loan out Milady’s ring for money, and then reclaim it again when it is safe. Just then, Kitty arrives.

     She begs d’Artagnan for protection. He agrees to find her a job somehow. Meanwhile, she reveals that M. Bonacieux has been visiting Milady’s house often, and she is fairly sure that he recognized her as she approached the apartment complex. They all check downstairs, and sure enough the traitorous man has gone, probably to Milady’s place to tell her that D’Artagnan and the others are meeting in Athos’s apartment.  They realize that they must flee, and quite casually leave poor Planchet behind to stay on guard. The group then finds Aramis, who rather quickly gives Kitty a job courtesy of Madame Bois-Tracy, a friend of his. Then, they sell the ring temporarily, and buy horses. Just as they are going home, however, Athos decides that he doesn’t ever want to get the ring back, and asks d’Artagnan to return to the buyer, to tell the man that the ring is his forever, and to collect the extra money.

Reaction

     Wow, look at how hard Athos struggled to earn money and – oh wait no, he just sold a family heirloom. Oh wait, he didn’t even sell it, he just watched as d’Artagnan sold it and gave him half of the money. Also, I felt rather sad for Kitty, as she leaves for her new job; she tells d’Artagnan that she will always love him. She needs to move on. D’Artagnan was an uncaring dingbat towards her. Now, he replies kindly, saying that he too will love her, but actions speak louder than words. He wants his guilt and debt towards Kitty gone out of his life as soon as possible. Also, I hope the Fearsome Four leave Paris as quickly as possible, because I do not think that Milady will delay her revenge much.

     My favorite line was Grimaud’s astonishment at seeing d’Artagnan in Kitty’s flowery robes: “‘Holloa, there!’ cried [Grimaud]; ‘what do you want, you strumpet? What's your business here, you hussy?’” I’d love to see d’Artagnan’s reaction to being called a hussy.