The Three Musketeers · Chapter
The Council of the Musketeers explained
The four musketeers occupy a bastion, using the bodies of fallen enemies as decoys while they breakfast and discuss their dire situation.
What happens
The four musketeers occupy a bastion, using the bodies of fallen enemies as decoys while they breakfast and discuss their dire situation. Athos reveals he has seen Milady, who has demanded d'Artagnan's head from the cardinal. They debate various plans to neutralize her, including d'Artagnan's idea of returning to England, Porthos's suggestion of killing her, and Aramis's proposal to inform the queen. Athos ultimately proposes warning her brother-in-law, Lord de Winter, to have her confined. Meanwhile, they fend off an attack by Rochellais soldiers, using a wall to crush most of them, and win their wager of holding the bastion for an hour.
Themes in this chapter
Loyalty and Friendship
The four musketeers stand together against overwhelming odds, sharing breakfast and strategizing as a united front.
Courage and Heroism
They bravely hold the bastion against a troop of soldiers, displaying coolness under fire and tactical ingenuity.
Deception and Disguise
Athos uses the corpses of enemies as decoys to deceive the Rochellais about their numbers.
Justice and Vengeance
The musketeers seek to thwart Milady's murderous plans, debating how to bring her to account.
Characters to notice
- Athos
Leads the council and the defense of the bastion; reveals he has seen Milady and proposes warning Lord de Winter.
- D'Artagnan
Distressed by the news of Milady's vendetta; suggests returning to England but is dissuaded by Athos.
- Porthos
Proposes killing Milady directly; participates in the battle and praises Athos's generalship.
- Aramis
Suggests informing the queen via a contact at Tours; fights alongside the others.
- Grimaud
Acts as sentinel and servant; sets up the decoy bodies and announces the approaching troop.
- Milady de Winter
Mentioned as having been seen by Athos; she has demanded d'Artagnan's head from the cardinal.
- Lord de Winter
Milady's brother-in-law; Athos proposes warning him to have Milady confined.
Key passages
“But when you held her in your power, why did you not drown her, strangle her, hang her? It is only the dead who do not return.”
Porthos asks why Athos didn't kill Milady when he had the chance, since only the dead can't come back.
Porthos advocates for a permanent solution to the threat of Milady.
“As soon as the enemy are within musket shot, we must fire upon them. If they continue to advance, we must fire again. We must fire as long as we have loaded guns. If those who remain of the troop persist in coming to the assault, we will allow the besiegers to get as far as the ditch, and then we will push down upon their heads that strip of wall which keeps its perpendicular by a miracle.”
Athos outlines a phased defense plan: shoot at the enemy as they approach, then collapse the wall on them if they reach the ditch.
Athos demonstrates tactical leadership and resourcefulness.
“I will go to England a second time; I will go and find Buckingham.”
D'Artagnan proposes traveling to England again to seek help from the Duke of Buckingham.
D'Artagnan's idea is rejected by Athos as treasonous during wartime.
“We must inform the queen.”
Aramis suggests sending a warning to Queen Anne of Austria about Milady's plans.
Aramis's idea is considered but deemed risky due to the cardinal's surveillance.
“This Milady, this woman, this creature, this demon, has a brother-in-law... It is he whom we must warn. We will have him informed that his sister-in-law is on the point of having someone assassinated, and beg him not to lose sight of her.”
Athos proposes contacting Lord de Winter to warn him that Milady is planning an assassination and to have her confined.
Athos's plan is adopted as the most practical solution.
