The Vicomte de Bragelonne · Chapter
A Letter from M. Baisemeaux explained
D'Artagnan visits Baisemeaux at the Bastille, but finds the governor unusually reserved and suspicious.
What happens
D'Artagnan visits Baisemeaux at the Bastille, but finds the governor unusually reserved and suspicious. Suspecting that something is being concealed from him, D'Artagnan ambushes the Bastille and intercepts a letter from Baisemeaux to Porthos, which reveals that Aramis has been making inquiries at the Bastille. D'Artagnan cleverly returns the letter without the soldier's knowledge and decides to follow him to Saint-Mandé to confront Porthos and Aramis.
Themes in this chapter
Court Intrigue and Deception
D'Artagnan's suspicion and his clever interception of the letter highlight the pervasive secrecy and manipulation among the king's officials.
Friendship and Betrayal
D'Artagnan's decision to spy on his old friends Porthos and Aramis reflects the tension between loyalty and personal ambition.
Characters to notice
- D'Artagnan
Visits Baisemeaux at the Bastille, becomes suspicious of his reserve, and intercepts a letter to Porthos to uncover the intrigue.
- Baisemeaux de Montlezun
Governor of the Bastille; receives D'Artagnan with marked reserve and sends a letter to Porthos warning about Aramis's inquiries.
- Porthos
The intended recipient of Baisemeaux's letter, which D'Artagnan intercepts; Porthos is implicated in the secret dealings at Saint-Mandé.
- Aramis
Mentioned in the letter as having been to the Bastille and making inquiries; the letter is addressed to Porthos to inform Aramis.
- Nicolas Fouquet
His residence at Saint-Mandé is the destination of the soldier carrying the letter; the intrigue involves his circle.
Key passages
“D’Artagnan, faithful to his plan, went the very next morning to pay a visit to M. de Baisemeaux.”
D'Artagnan, sticking to his scheme, called on Baisemeaux the following morning.
D'Artagnan initiates his investigation by visiting the governor.
“The governor, Baisemeaux, received d’Artagnan with more than ordinary politeness, but he behaved towards him with so marked a reserve of manner, that all d’Artagnan’s tact and cleverness could not get a syllable out of him.”
Baisemeaux was overly polite but so guarded that D'Artagnan could not extract any information.
Baisemeaux's unusual reserve arouses D'Artagnan's suspicion.
“D’Artagnan observed a soldier leave the Bastille. This was, indeed, the surest indication he could possibly have wished for.”
D'Artagnan saw a soldier leaving the Bastille, which confirmed his suspicions.
The soldier's departure signals that a message is being sent.
“He has a weakness for brandy, I see, said d’Artagnan to himself. At the same moment that he remarked his red nose, he saw that the soldier had a white paper in his belt. Good, he has a letter, added d’Artagnan.”
D'Artagnan noted the soldier's red nose and the letter in his belt, deducing he was a messenger.
D'Artagnan's keen observation identifies the soldier as a courier.
“D’Artagnan glided behind the soldier, who was closely hemmed in by the crowd, and with a rapid sweep, like a sabre slash, snatched the letter from his belt.”
D'Artagnan slipped behind the soldier in the crowd and swiftly stole the letter from his belt.
D'Artagnan's deft theft of the letter reveals his resourcefulness.
“The letter contained only these words: 'Dear Monsieur Du Vallon —Will you be good enough to tell Monsieur d’Herblay that he has been to the Bastille, and has been making inquiries.'”
The letter simply asked Porthos to inform Aramis that someone had been to the Bastille asking questions.
The intercepted message reveals the secret communication between Baisemeaux and Aramis.
