Chapter 2 A Day for Dueling D'Artagnan raced down the stairs and collided with a musketeer who cried out in pain.
Excuse me, said D'Artagnan.
I'm very sorry, but I'm in a hurry.
He had barely taken a step when someone grabbed his belt and he was pulled backward.
You're sorry, eh? said the musketeer.
You heard how Monsieur d'Etreville spoke to my friends and now you think anyone can treat us like that.
D'Artagnan recognized the musketeer as Athos.
He tried to apologize again, but Athos was in a bad mood and would not accept it.
D'Artagnan had no patience for this kind of behavior, even from a musketeer as brave as Athos.
Before he knew it, he had challenged Athos to a duel.
The men agreed to fight at noon.
Outside, D'Autrignon saw Portos speaking to another man in front of the main gate.
There was just enough room to run behind Portos.
As he did, a gust of wind blew Portos' cloak up, and D'Autrignon became wrapped in it.
Portos pulled his cloak together and found himself nose to nose with D'Autrignon.
"'Excuse me,' D'Autrignon said, moving out from under the large man's arm.
"'I am in a great hurry.
I was chasing.'
You always run blind, I suppose.
Porthos towered over him.
No, I do not, D'Artagnan said, his temper rising again.
Do you think you can just push past me?
Porthos asked.
You should have asked before barging through.
I was in a hurry, D'Artagnan said.
This is very important, and you are also very large, and your cloak is too long.
It was in my way.
What?
Portos shouted.
The two men argued and, as quickly as it had happened with Athos, D'Artagnan found himself agreeing to another duel.
This one was set for one o'clock in the same place where D'Artagnan was to fight Athos.
D'Artagnan resumed his chase, but the man from Mons was gone.
Suddenly the events of the morning began to sink in.
D'Artagnan had disgraced himself in front of Monsieur d'Etreville by rushing out like that.
Then he had challenged two dangerous men to duels.
What's worse, he thought of those two men as heroes.
What a fool I am, D'Artagnan thought.
I should try to be like Aramis.
Didn't he seem friendly and graceful?
Suddenly, D'Artagnan saw Aramis talking with some other men.
This time, D'Artagnan decided to be careful and polite.
He saw a handkerchief under Aramis's boot and picked it up.
Here, monsieur, D'Artagnan said, I believe you dropped this.
Aramis snatched it quickly and the other men began to tease him.
Aramis, one of them said, ''If you truly do not know Madame Dubois-Tracy, why do you have her handkerchief?''
''You are mistaken,'' Aramis said.
''This does not belong to me.
Perhaps it fell from your pocket.''
''I'm sorry,'' Drignon said, trying to help.
''I didn't see it fall from anyone's pocket.
I just saw it under your shoe.''
The men left still laughing at Aramis, who walked in the other direction.
D'Artagnan ran after him to apologize.
Unfortunately, Aramis was now embarrassed and angry.
Instead of accepting the apology, he called D'Artagnan a fool for his behavior.
Once again, D'Artagnan lost his temper.
He quickly challenged Aramis to a duel, and they agreed to meet at two o'clock.
I don't think I'll survive this, D'Artagnan thought.
Well, if I am to be killed, at least I'll be killed by a musketeer.
D'Artagnan was convinced that he couldn't win three duels, but he wasn't the sort of person to just give up.
Instead, he thought about how he could outsmart the three musketeers.
Soon he arrived at the meeting place for his duel with Arthos, a small monastery surrounded by empty fields.
Arthos was waiting with his typical calm and dignity.
From his movements it was clear that he was still injured.
Monsieur, I have asked two friends to be with me today, Arthos told D'Otrignon.
They should be here soon.
I don't know why they are late.
I have asked no one to be here with me, D'Antignon said.
The only person I know in this city is Monsieur d'Etreville.
After a moment's thought, Otto said, He's your only friend, well.
Look here.
If I kill you, I shall be taken for an ogre.
You are far too young for this.
No one will say you overpowered me, D'Antignon said.
After all, your wounds still seem to be giving you trouble.
They are very troublesome indeed, Otto said.
You hurt me when you ran into me, but I can fight just as well with my other hand.
If you would allow me to make an offer, D'Artagnan said.
My mother gave me some medicine that works well for curing wounds.
You can have some.
I'm sure you will be healed in a few days.
We can duel then, if you like.
Suddenly the men saw Porthos and Hermes approaching.
Finally, my friends have arrived, Athos said.
You asked them to be here?
D'Artagnan asked.
Of course, Athos replied.
We are best friends.
Porthos and Ermus asked D'Artagnan why he was there so soon.
The musketeers were confused when they discovered that they were all to duel with him.
Athos, why are you fighting with him?
Ermus asked.
Actually, I'm not sure.
He accidentally hurt my shoulder.
Athos said, what about you, Porthos?
I'm fighting, Porthos began.
Then he blushed.
I'm fighting because I'm fighting.
Dothenio smiled and said, we had a slight disagreement over fashion.
And you, Aramis, asked Athos.
Oh, ours is a religious quarrel.
Aramis said, and made a sign to Doctrineau, that they should keep the real reason a secret.
Now that you are all here...
D'Artagnan said.
Allow me to offer my apologies.
Do not misunderstand me.
I apologize only that I can't settle my score with all of you.
Monsieur Athos has the first right to kill me, which lessens the value of your claim, Monsieur Porthos, and makes yours, Monsieur Aramis, practically worthless.
So I repeat, gentlemen, please excuse me, but on that score alone.
Come on, guards.
D'Artagnan bowed and drew his sword.
But just as he and Athos were about to begin, a group of the cardinal's guards arrived and accused the musketeers of dueling.
Then they tried to arrest all four men.
There are five of them and only three of us, Athos said to his friends.
If we are taken in, I would not be able to face Monsieur de Tréville.
I would rather take my chances here.
Allow me to correct you, D'Entraignan said.
There are four of us.
I don't wear a musketeer's uniform, but my heart is that of a musketeer.
What is your name, my brave fellow?
Athos asked.
D'Entraignan, monsieur.
Well, then, Athos cried.
Athos, Portos, Aramis, and D'Entraignan, forward!
D'Artagnan fought with the leader of the guards, who made the mistake of thinking him too young to know how to use a sword.
After a short fight, D'Artagnan easily defeated him and left him with an injury to the leg.
Then D'Artagnan looked over the field.
Only Athos seemed to be losing strength, so D'Artagnan ran to his aid and disarmed his opponent.
At the same time, Eremus disarmed his man.
The leader of the guards realized that his men had lost and ordered the last soldier to stop fighting with Portos.
The musketeers took the guards' swords as trophies and left the field arm in arm with D'Entrenon.
As they walked, every musketeer they met joined them until there was a victory parade marching toward Monsieur de Treville's mansion.
The fight caused a scandal, and public Monsieur d'Etreville scolded the men, but in private he congratulated them.
Soon after, he told the king how D'Artagnan had fought at the musketeer's side and helped them win.
A brave lad, the king said, pleased that his soldiers had proven to be better than the cardinal's.
The king congratulated the musketeers.
He singled out D'Autrignon for his youth and bravery and gave him several gold coins.
Then the king whispered to Monsieur d'Etreville, I know, every musketeer must first have a trial period as a soldier.
Let's put this lad in service as one of the cardinal's guards.
It will be good to have a trustworthy man there.
Monsieur d'Etreville went to tell D'Artagnan and found the young man dividing his prize evenly with the three musketeers.
