The Three Musketeers · Chapter
The Anjou Wine explained
D'Artagnan receives a gift of Anjou wine from his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, who have been confined after a disturbance.
What happens
D'Artagnan receives a gift of Anjou wine from his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, who have been confined after a disturbance. He invites fellow guardsmen to share the wine, but during the banquet, a false soldier named Brisemont pours the lees into a glass and drinks it, dying in agony—revealing the wine was poisoned. The friends realize Milady de Winter is behind the attempt. They discuss rescuing Constance Bonacieux from a convent and plan to confront Milady. The chapter ends with the arrival of King Louis XIII and the cardinal at the camp.
Themes in this chapter
Loyalty and Friendship
The four friends demonstrate deep loyalty: they send wine to d'Artagnan despite their confinement, and later unite to confront the threat against him.
Deception and Disguise
The poisoned wine is a deceitful plot by Milady, and the false soldier Brisemont is used as an unwitting tool in the assassination attempt.
Love and Betrayal
D'Artagnan's love for Constance drives the friends' plan to rescue her, while Milady's betrayal through poison underscores the theme.
Characters to notice
- D'Artagnan
Receives the poisoned wine intended for him; narrowly escapes death; discusses Constance's rescue and plans to confront Milady.
- Athos
Doubts Milady's involvement but advises confronting her; suggests waiting for an opportunity to meet her.
- Porthos
Proposes carrying Constance off from the convent after the siege; breaks the poisoned bottles.
- Aramis
Offers to obtain intelligence about Constance's convent through the queen's almoner; orders a confessor for the dying Brisemont.
- Constance Bonacieux
Mentioned as being in a convent; the friends discuss rescuing her.
- Milady de Winter
Implied to be behind the poisoning attempt; d'Artagnan is certain of her involvement.
- Planchet
Assists in preparing the banquet; narrowly avoids drinking the poisoned wine.
- King Louis XIII
Arrives at the camp with reinforcements, prompting celebrations.
Key passages
““But we must first learn what convent she is in.” “That’s true,” said Porthos. “But I think I have it,” said Athos. “Don’t you say, dear d’Artagnan, that it is the queen who has made choice of the convent for her?” “I believe so, at least.” “In that case Porthos will assist us.” “And how so, if you please?” “Why, by your marchioness, your duchess, your princess. She must have a long arm.””
The friends realize they need to find out which convent holds Constance, and Athos suggests using Porthos's influential connections to discover the information.
The group strategizes to locate Constance by leveraging Porthos's aristocratic contacts.
““Listen! You must try to see her, and have an explanation with her. Say to her: ‘Peace or war! My word as a gentleman never to say anything of you, never to do anything against you; on your side, a solemn oath to remain neutral with respect to me. If not, I will apply to the chancellor, I will apply to the king, I will apply to the hangman, I will move the courts against you, I will denounce you as branded, I will bring you to trial; and if you are acquitted, well, by the faith of a gentleman, I will kill you at the corner of some wall, as I would a mad dog.’ ””
Athos advises d'Artagnan to confront Milady directly, offering a truce or threatening legal action and personal vengeance if she refuses.
Athos proposes a bold ultimatum to Milady, reflecting the theme of justice and vengeance.
