Twenty Years After · Chapter
In Which We Hear Tidings of Aramis explained
D'Artagnan and Porthos visit Raoul at the camp near Saint Omer, comforting him with a fabricated story about Athos and Aramis being in Constantinople.
What happens
D'Artagnan and Porthos visit Raoul at the camp near Saint Omer, comforting him with a fabricated story about Athos and Aramis being in Constantinople. They then travel to Boulogne, where they meet Mordaunt, who escorts them on a mission to deliver a letter to Oliver Cromwell. After a brief return to Paris, they witness the city's rebellious mood and receive a troubling letter from Athos.
Themes in this chapter
Friendship and Loyalty
D'Artagnan lies to comfort Raoul about Athos, and the friends support each other through difficult missions.
Class and Ambition
D'Artagnan and Porthos seek promotions and a barony from Mazarin; Planchet rises to sergeant among the citizens.
Characters to notice
- D'Artagnan
Comforts Raoul with a false story about Athos and Aramis; meets Mordaunt and learns his mission is to deliver a letter to Cromwell; returns to Paris and receives a letter from Athos.
- Porthos
Accompanies D'Artagnan to the camp and to Boulogne; is astonished by D'Artagnan's deception; expresses impatience about supper before departure.
- Raoul
Found dejected and lonely at the camp; weeps over lack of news from Athos; is comforted by D'Artagnan's fabricated letter and gift of pistoles.
- Mousqueton
Praised by D'Artagnan for his valor; later found sleeping on horse straw and caught with stolen louis, but is pardoned.
- Mordaunt
Meets D'Artagnan and Porthos in Boulogne; reveals himself as the contact for the mission to Cromwell; impatient to depart.
- Planchet
Seen drilling citizens in Paris; proudly greets D'Artagnan, who calls him 'Monsieur Dulaurier' in return.
- Athos
Mentioned as being in Constantinople (falsely); a letter from him arrives at the end of the chapter, expressing unhappiness.
- Aramis
Mentioned as being with Athos; the letter indicates both are very unhappy.
Key passages
“Oh, is it you, dear friends? Did you come here to fetch me? Will you take me away with you? Do you bring me tidings of my guardian?”
Raoul greets D'Artagnan and Porthos eagerly, hoping for news of Athos.
Raoul's loneliness and longing for his guardian are evident.
“He is at Constantinople.”
D'Artagnan falsely tells Raoul that Athos is in Constantinople.
D'Artagnan invents a location to prevent Raoul from trying to join Athos.
“I am the man you have to do with. I am M. Mordaunt.”
Mordaunt introduces himself as the contact for the mission.
Mordaunt is the man Athos warned D'Artagnan about.
“It was directed to 'Monsieur Oliver Cromwell, General of the Army of the English Nation.'”
D'Artagnan opens the letter and discovers it is addressed to Oliver Cromwell.
The mission is revealed to be an embassy to the English Parliamentarian leader.
