# Three Guests Astonished to Find Themselves at Supper Together explained — The Vicomte de Bragelonne

> Chapter companion for The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas.

## What happens

D'Artagnan brings Athos to the Bastille under the pretense of delivering a prisoner, but they unexpectedly encounter Aramis dining with Governor Baisemeaux. D'Artagnan fabricates a story about a prior invitation to explain their presence, then abruptly leaves Athos behind, urging him to be discreet. The three men—Athos, Aramis, and Baisemeaux—sit down to a lavish supper, each preoccupied with their own suspicions and hidden agendas.

## Themes in this chapter

### Court Intrigue and Deception

D'Artagnan's elaborate lies to explain their presence at the Bastille, and the mutual suspicion among the three friends, highlight the pervasive deception in courtly and political life.

### Friendship and Betrayal

The uneasy reunion of Athos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan is marked by hidden motives and unspoken tensions, testing their old bonds of friendship.

## Character check-ins

### D'Artagnan

Arrives at the Bastille with Athos, feigns surprise at finding Aramis, and quickly departs on a pretext, leaving Athos to dine with Aramis and Baisemeaux.

### Athos

Brought to the Bastille by d'Artagnan; remains silent and observant during supper, studying Aramis and following d'Artagnan's advice to be discreet.

### Aramis

Found dining with Baisemeaux; shows visible emotion at seeing his friends and is suspicious of their unexpected arrival.

### Baisemeaux de Montlezun

Governor of the Bastille; confused by the sudden appearance of all three friends, he stammers through d'Artagnan's fabricated story and hosts the supper.

## Key lines

> The carriage arrived at the outside of the gate of the Bastille. A soldier on guard stopped it, but d’Artagnan had only to utter a single word to procure admittance, and the carriage passed on without further difficulty.

D'Artagnan's authority grants them easy entry into the Bastille with just a word.

_Demonstrates d'Artagnan's influence and the ease of access for high-ranking officials._

> Athos, I have an idea; the question is, to spare Aramis the annoyance you were speaking of, is it not? ... I will tell falsehoods enough for both; it is easy to do that when one is born to the nature and habits of a Gascon.

D'Artagnan proposes to lie to protect Aramis's dignity, claiming his Gascon nature makes deception easy.

_Highlights d'Artagnan's cunning and willingness to deceive for his friends' sake._

> Aramis was incessantly asking himself by what extraordinary chance Athos was there at Baisemeaux’s when d’Artagnan was no longer there, and why d’Artagnan did not remain when Athos was there.

Aramis is puzzled by the strange circumstances of Athos's presence and d'Artagnan's sudden departure.

_Reveals Aramis's suspicious nature and the underlying tension among the characters._

## Links

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