The Vicomte de Bragelonne · Chapter
In Which Porthos Is Convinced Without Having Understood Anything explained
Raoul and Grimaud find Porthos waiting for Saint-Aignan, but instead inform him that Athos has been arrested by d'Artagnan and taken to the Bastille.
What happens
Raoul and Grimaud find Porthos waiting for Saint-Aignan, but instead inform him that Athos has been arrested by d'Artagnan and taken to the Bastille. They pursue the carriage, only to discover Athos is free and simply taking a drive with d'Artagnan after supper at the Bastille with Baisemeaux and Aramis. Athos decides to return to Blois immediately, and Raoul agrees to accompany him. D'Artagnan convinces Porthos that fighting Saint-Aignan would be equivalent to fighting the king, leaving Porthos confused but compliant.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Betrayal
The musketeers' loyalty is tested as they rally to free Athos, only to find he is already free; d'Artagnan's manipulation of Porthos highlights the tension between friendship and royal duty.
Honor and Loyalty
Porthos's chivalric code drives him to wait for a duel, while Raoul's filial devotion leads him to pursue his father's captor.
Characters to notice
- Porthos
Waits for Saint-Aignan, then learns of Athos's supposed arrest and joins the pursuit; later convinced by d'Artagnan not to fight.
- Raoul de Bragelonne
Desperate after his father's arrest, leads the pursuit of the carriage and is relieved to find Athos free.
- Athos
Freed from the Bastille, he is discovered in the carriage with d'Artagnan and decides to return to Blois immediately.
- D'Artagnan
Drives Athos from the Bastille after supper, then convinces Porthos that a duel with Saint-Aignan is a duel with the king.
- Grimaud
Assists Raoul and Porthos in the pursuit, spots the carriage, and receives a smile from Athos.
Key passages
“The good and worthy Porthos, faithful to all the laws of ancient chivalry, had determined to wait for M. de Saint-Aignan until sunset; and as Saint-Aignan did not come, as Raoul had forgotten to communicate with his second, and as he found that waiting so long was very wearisome, Porthos had desired one of the gatekeepers to fetch him a few bottles of good wine and a good joint of meat—so that, at least, he might pass away the time by means of a glass or two and a mouthful of something to eat.”
Porthos, ever the chivalrous gentleman, resolved to wait for Saint-Aignan until sunset. When his opponent failed to appear and Raoul had neglected to inform his second, Porthos grew bored and asked a gatekeeper to bring him wine and meat to pass the time.
Shows Porthos's simple, practical nature and his adherence to the code of honor.
“I assure you it is with M. Saint-Aignan." "Look now, this is what I mean; you draw your sword against the king in fighting with this gentleman." "Ah!" said Porthos, staring; "are you sure of it?" "Indeed I am." "What in the world are we to do, then?" "We must try and make a good supper, Porthos."”
Porthos insists his quarrel is with Saint-Aignan, but d'Artagnan explains that fighting him is the same as fighting the king. Porthos is astonished but accepts the logic, and d'Artagnan suggests they simply enjoy a good supper instead.
Highlights d'Artagnan's clever manipulation and Porthos's trusting, somewhat gullible nature.