Chapter 65: Trial

Summary

     Basically, this chapter consists of the four Musketeers, Lord de Winter, and the man in the red cloak – well mostly Athos and d’Artagnan, acting very creepy, freaking Milady out, capturing her, and ‘sentencing’ her to death. Uh-oh. The chapter begins with the traveling Musketeers, Lord de Winter, and the man in the red cloak reaching the other servants. Grimaud then takes them to Milady’s hideout. She is in a small cabin, sitting pensively in an armchair. They appear suddenly and stare menacingly at her. Athos literally smiles sinisterly. When Milady sees him smiling so, and looking at her through the window, she screams in horror. Everyone enters the cabin ominously. They hold a ‘trial’ where they take turns accusing her in a totally biased manner. She is rightly accused of murdering Madame Bonacieux, and then baselessly accused of murdering her second husband. They then claim that Felton’s murder of the duke, and Felton likely being sentenced to death, are her fault. Everyone shudders in horror, thinking of ‘poor’ Felton. Screw that noise. I thought we went over this, Dumas. Milady did not force Felton to murder the duke. She did not even ASK him to. He committed the deed of his own volition. Felton’s a big boy. He ought to be able to handle the consequences – as ought Milady – but at least Felton will get a fair trial! The procedure then gets about 1.6 times more disgusting when Athos suddenly steps up, all a-quiver with self-righteousness.

     Trembling, Athos tells everyone how he married Milady and thought he loved her when he figured out that *GASP* she once stole some pots! So, quite naturally, he tried to kill her. And no one in the room seems to realize how messed up that is. Milady demands proof, and the man in the red cloak steps forward. He finally unveils himself. Good grief – finally done with all the histrionics! He is her old executioner. The executioner then dramatically recounts how Milady had ‘seduced’ a priest and how he had stolen some sacred pots so they could run away and live together. They were caught, and the man who stole the pots was branded. And…he also was the executioner’s brother. Of course. The executioner also decided to brand Milady, because he sucks like that. Then, she abandoned the priest and married Athos. The priest hung himself with guilt, because the executioner was imprisoned in his place when Milady and the priest fled. Okay. The executioner demands that Milady die. Everyone else agrees in creepy voices. I hate everyone in this room. Except the Hungry Quadruplets of Joy – I must give all of them kudos on not participating in this disgrace.

Reaction

     What. The. Fresh. Heck. Is. This. Plotline. I honestly don’t know – did Dumas just give up or something? Wasn’t there a better way to resolve this other than making me hate all the main ‘good guys?’ I can hardly believe the crazy double standards they have. Seriously – the only legitimate crime that Milady has committed and needs to be held accountable for is the poisoning of Madame Bonacieux. That is a second-degree murder, since it was not premeditated. I looked it up, and in the modern day United States, she would get life imprisonment. Sounds fair to me – she certainly ought to be put in jail so she can’t hurt anyone else! But death without a proper trial? Aw, no way. And what was up with the man in the red cloak? He literally added nothing to the story. His story just makes me feel the unfairness even more, because Milady didn’t even actually *steal* the pots, that dumb-butt priest did. And they all used way too much drama and suspense and silliness for my liking. For goodness sakes, they literally used creepy voices and unnerving repetition of the death sentence when sentencing Milady. I couldn’t say I had a favorite line – the whole chapter was terrifying, but this part best shows how sinister everyone was acting:

“‘Monsieur d'Artagnan,’ said Athos, ‘what is the penalty you demand against this woman?’

‘The punishment of death,’ replied d'Artagnan.

‘My Lord de Winter,’ continued Athos, ‘what is the penalty you demand against this woman?’

‘The punishment of death,’ replied Lord de Winter.

‘Messieurs Porthos and Aramis,’ repeated Athos, ‘you who are her judges, what is the sentence you pronounce upon this woman?’

‘The punishment of death,’ replied the Musketeers, in a hollow voice.

Milady uttered a frightful shriek, and dragged herself along several paces upon her knees toward her judges.

Athos stretched out his hand toward her.

"Charlotte Backson, Comtesse de la Fere, Milady de Winter,’ said he, ’your crimes have wearied men on earth and God in heaven. If you know a prayer, say it--for you are condemned, and you shall die.’”

Sounds like a horror story, right?