The Vicomte de Bragelonne · Chapter
Who Messire Jean Percerin Was explained
This chapter introduces Messire Jean Percerin, the hereditary tailor to the French crown, tracing his family's history from Charles IX through Louis XIV.
What happens
This chapter introduces Messire Jean Percerin, the hereditary tailor to the French crown, tracing his family's history from Charles IX through Louis XIV. It describes his immense skill, wealth, and influence, as well as his selective clientele. D'Artagnan brings Porthos to Percerin's shop, where they find a crowd of nobles waiting for the tailor, who is busy designing five costumes for the king. Inside, d'Artagnan discovers Molière observing the scene and asks him to announce their presence.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Social Mobility
Percerin's rise from Huguenot tailor to master tailor of the crown, his refusal to serve bourgeois clients, and the story of Mazarin granting him letters of nobility illustrate the fluidity and barriers of social class.
Greed and Corruption
The tailor's selective service, his demand for payment before credit, and his accumulation of wealth and privilege reflect the greed and corruption inherent in courtly favor.
Characters to notice
- D'Artagnan
Accompanies Porthos to Percerin's shop, uses his influence to gain entry, and recognizes Molière behind the counter.
- Porthos
Accompanies d'Artagnan to Percerin's, expresses concern about being refused service, and clears a path through the crowd.
- Molière
Found seated behind the counter observing the customers; d'Artagnan asks him to announce them to Percerin.
- Nicolas Fouquet
Mentioned as a patron who highly esteemed Percerin.
- Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Mentioned as someone Percerin could never fit properly, despite his skill.
- Jules Mazarin
Mentioned in a story about slipping letters of nobility into Percerin's pocket.
- Louis XIV
Mentioned as the current king who employs Percerin and for whom five costumes are being designed.
Key passages
“The king’s tailor, Messire Jean Percerin, occupied a rather large house in the Rue St. Honoré, near the Rue de l’Arbre Sec.”
The royal tailor, Jean Percerin, lived in a large house on Rue St. Honoré, close to Rue de l’Arbre Sec.
Establishes Percerin's prestigious location in Paris.
“He was a man of great taste in elegant stuffs, embroideries, and velvets, being hereditary tailor to the king.”
He had excellent taste in fine fabrics and was the king's hereditary tailor.
Highlights Percerin's expertise and hereditary position.
“The great Percerin... was inspired when he cut a robe for the queen, or a coat for the king; he could mount a mantle for Monsieur, the clock of a stocking for Madame; but, in spite of his supreme talent, he could never hit off anything approaching a creditable fit for M. Colbert.”
Percerin excelled at making garments for the royal family but could never fit M. Colbert properly.
Illustrates Percerin's selective skill and his peculiar inability to satisfy Colbert.
“Presented by me, you have nothing to fear, even though you were what you are not.”
With my introduction, you have nothing to worry about, even if you were not who you are.
D'Artagnan reassures Porthos about Percerin's potential impertinence.
