# D’Artagnan’s Lesson explained — The Vicomte de Bragelonne

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

## What happens

D'Artagnan meets Raoul in the Place Baudoyer and invites him to dine. Along the way, he criticizes the young king Louis XIV, praises Charles II, and advises Raoul to seek favor with M. Fouquet. D'Artagnan also reveals his own financial success through property investments, including a house with a macabre rental income from executions. The chapter ends with a letter from Athos summoning D'Artagnan to the king.

## Themes in this chapter

### Friendship and Betrayal

D'Artagnan's candid criticism of the king and his advice to Raoul reflect his loyalty to his friends and his disillusionment with the court.

### Class and Social Mobility

D'Artagnan's rise from poverty to property owner, and his advice to Raoul on seeking favor with Fouquet, highlight the theme of social advancement.

### Greed and Corruption

D'Artagnan's rental of windows for executions and his criticism of contractors and farmers-general underscore the corruption and greed in society.

## Character check-ins

### D'Artagnan

Meets Raoul in Place Baudoyer, criticizes King Louis XIV, advises Raoul to seek favor with Fouquet, and reveals his property investments.

### Raoul de Bragelonne

Meets D'Artagnan while leading dragoons from Vincennes, dines with him, and receives advice about his future.

### Athos

Mentioned as Raoul's father and a man of justice; sends a letter summoning D'Artagnan to the king.

### Planchet

D'Artagnan lodges with him; his household retains military punctuality.

### Louis XIV

Criticized by D'Artagnan as a sighing, weak king with a 'heartache'.

### Charles II

Praised by D'Artagnan as a king who amuses himself and appreciates useful men.

### Nicolas Fouquet

D'Artagnan advises Raoul to stand well with Fouquet after Mazarin's death.

### Jules Mazarin

Reported to be very ill or dead; D'Artagnan dismisses his death with disdain.

## Key lines

> Day by day, hour by hour—take note of my words—I will predict what he will do. The cardinal being dead, he will fret; very well, that is the least silly thing he will do, particularly if he does not shed a tear.

D'Artagnan predicts that after Mazarin's death, the king will fret but not weep, and will then seek a pension from Fouquet and write verses.

_D'Artagnan's cynical forecast of Louis XIV's behavior._

> I suspect some canon of the parish (these canons are all rich as Croesus)—I suspect some canon of having hired the garden to take his pleasure in. The tenant has given the name of M. Godard. That is either a false name or a real name; if true, he is a canon; if false, he is some unknown; but of what consequence is it to me? he always pays in advance.

D'Artagnan suspects a wealthy canon has rented his garden under a pseudonym, but he does not care as long as the rent is paid in advance.

_D'Artagnan's pragmatic attitude toward his tenants._

## Links

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