Chapter 1 An Adventure in Mong.
The town of Mong was used to disturbances of one sort or another, but on that first Monday in April 1625 there seemed to be something special happening.
People were shouting and running toward an inn called the Jolly Miller, where a large crowd was watching a young man named Dong Tianyong.
A few days earlier, D'Antignon's father had sent him on a journey to find fortune, adventure and honor.
He had also given his son a letter that would introduce him to Monsieur de Tréville, the leader of the musketeers.
D'Antignon was just eighteen years old.
He was wearing a faded blue cloak and a little hat with a feather tucked into it.
His face was long, thin, and tanned. with high cheekbones and a wide jaw.
Too tall to be a child, but too short to be an adult.
He looked like a farmer's son on a long journey.
Only the large sword hanging from his belt distinguished him as a fighter.
It was D'Entrignon's old yellow horse that had created the sensation.
It walked strangely and looked even stranger.
As he tied his horse to a post outside the Jolly Miller D'Antignon saw a man inside who seemed to be about forty-five years old, with pale skin, piercing black eyes, a black mustache and a scar across his cheek.
He and some men were laughing at D'Antignon.
Tired of being embarrassed, D'Antignon challenged the man to a duel.
They drew swords, but then the man's friends attacked.
D'Antignon fought them all until someone hit him from behind and knocked him unconscious.
When D'Antignon awoke, he found that the innkeeper had taken him upstairs.
Through the window, he saw the stranger again.
He was speaking to a young woman in a horse-drawn carriage.
She seemed to be about twenty-five years old, and she was beautiful.
The man handed her a box.
Through the open window.
D'Antignon heard him tell the woman to take the box to London on orders from the cardinal.
Then he heard the man call her, m'lady.
The man left before D'Antignon could catch up with him to finish their duel.
Upset and injured, D'Antignon returned to the inn and stayed for several days.
He spent most of his money paying for his stay.
When he finally looked for the letter that would introduce him to Monsieur de Treville, it was gone.
The innkeeper told D'Antignon that it had fallen from his pocket when he had been knocked out.
The man with the scar had seen the letter and seemed very interested in it.
That scoundrel stole my letter, D'Antignon said.
I swear I'll find him.
Octaniel left the inn and made his way to Paris.
When he arrived at Monsieur de Treville's mansion, he saw many musketeers practicing with swords and heard them talking about the cardinal and his guards.
Although the king ruled France, everyone knew that the cardinal wanted to take power.
Cardinal Richelieu led the church.
He had his own soldiers, the cardinal's guards who often fought with the musketeers.
On the stairs D'Artagnan passed a tall musketeer dressed in a sky-blue shirt and a long crimson cloak.
Across his chest hung a magnificent golden sash called a baldric.
This was not the regular uniform, and the other musketeers were teasing him about it.
D'Artagnan learned that the man's name was Portos.
My dear Aramis, make up your mind.
Portos said to another musketeer, Are you to be a priest or a musketeer?
Be one or the other, but not both.
Portos, Eremus replied, sounding angry, You are a vain man.
Look at your sash.
It's far too fancy for a musketeer.
As for me, if I choose to become a priest, then I shall.
Meanwhile, I am a musketeer and I will say what I like, and at this moment, I'm happy to say that I find you a great bore.
Just as D'Artagnan was beginning to wonder why the two men were so angry, the door to Monsieur de Treville's office opened and he was called inside.
Before D'Artagnan could get very far.
Monsieur de Treville motioned for him to wait and then shouted three names toward the hallway.
At each name, his volume and anger rose.
Athos!
Pothos!
Aramis!
The two men d'Entraignan had seen arguing entered the room.
Monsieur d'Etreville told them he had learned from the king that several of the cardinal's guards had fought and defeated them the previous night.
Tell me, Aramis, said Monsieur d'Etreville.
Why did you ask me for a musketeer's uniform when a priest's frock would have suited you better?
And portals, what use is such a fancy sash when all it holds up is a sword made of straw?
And Athos, where is Athos?
The two musketeers said that Athos was ill, but it was clear that Monsieur de Treville did not believe them.
"'Seems the guardsmen are better soldiers after all,' continued Monsieur d'Etreville.
"'Perhaps I should resign here and apply to be a lieutenant with them.'
Unable to remain silent any more, Porthos spoke.
He told Monsieur d'Etreville that the guards had attacked them first, but without warning.
Before they could even draw their swords, two musketeers had been hurt and unable to fight.'
The fight remained six guards against four musketeers until Athos was badly hurt.
They continued to fight anyway, but the guards overwhelmed them.
Luckily, the musketeers managed to escape.
I didn't hear about this, said Monsieur d'Etreville.
The guards should not have fought unfairly.
Just then, Athos entered.
It was clear from his movements that he was still hurt.
Monsieur d'Etreville tried to shake his hand, but Athos collapsed.
A doctor came and took him to another room to recover.
When word arrived back that Athos had woken up and that his wounds would heal, Monsieur d'Etreville apologized to the other musketeers and told them to go.
Then he turned his attention back to D'Orsignan.
I know your father, said Monsieur d'Etreville.
He has always been very dear to me.
What can I do for his son?
D'Antignon asked to become a musketeer.
Monsieur d'Etreville told him that he must first prove himself in battle.
He offered to have d'Antignon enrolled in the military academy where he would learn to be a soldier.
Alas, monsieur, said D'Artagnan, my father gave me a letter for you.
I believe it would have convinced you to allow me into the musketeers.
How I wish I had it now.
D'Artagnan told Monsieur de Treville of his adventure in Mont and the lost letter.
Your letter had my name written on it, asked Monsieur de Treville.
D'Artagnan said it did.
After thinking for a few moments, M de Treville asked Was the man tall with black hair and a mustache?
Did he have a scar on his cheek?
That's him, said D'Antegno.
If I ever find him again... He was speaking to a lady, M. de Treville interrupted.
D'Antegno told him of Milady and the instruction he had overheard that she was to bring a box to London.
Suddenly D'Antegno looked out the window and shouted, I see him!
The man from Mont!
He'll not escape me this time!
Before Monsieur de Treville could stop him, D'Antegno ran from the room.
Thief!
D'Antegno shouted.
Coward!
