The Three Musketeers
1
Life knows no age or time.
Youth will ever set out to seek
fortune.
Man will ever fight for the love
of Woman.
Kings will threaten - Queens weep -
Ministers conspire.
And so - though our story is of
three hundred years ago, it is as young
as Yesterday - or To-morrow.
2
Then follow us to France of old,
To fiery days when
hearts beat high,
When blood was young,
and hate was bold,
When sword crossed sword
to dare and die.
For love and honor gloried then,
When life was life, and
men were men!
3
In 1625 the Court of
France teemed with plot
and counterplot, faction
and cabal, enmity and
jealousy - its men and
women merely pawns
in a game.
4
Louis XIII, the King,
jealous, suspicious, easily
moulded ---
5
Cardinal Richelieu,
the Prime Minister, iron-
willed, bent on being the
sole power to dominate
the King -
6
In another room
in the palace -
7
Anne of Austria, Queen
of France, whose influence
over the King is the one
obstacle in Richelieu's path
to power -
8
Constance Bonacieux -
seamstress to the Queen -
9
Milady de Winter -
10
Father Joseph, the
familiar of the Cardinal,
fearsomely known as
His Grey Eminence -
11
In England, the Duke
of Buckingham, whose mad
infatuation for the Queen
of France offers Richelieu
the means for accomplish-
ing his purpose -
12
"Monsieur le Cardinal,
your medicine."
13
"I thank thee, Joseph.
That is very stimulating."
14
"Your queen is in danger."
15
"Your queen is
in danger - menaced
by a knight."
16
"Why do you harp
on my Queen? What
do you mean?"
17
"I but spoke of your
chess queen, sire."
18
"Always double meanings.
Speak out, I command you."
19
"What shall I say of
the Queen save that she
is profoundly devoted?"
20
"Devoted! To whom?
Not to me. She is in love
with Buckingham!"
21
"I cannot but think
you are wrong, sire.
If it were true, letters
would have passed
between them."
22
"Letters! We shall soon see."
23
"Madame, it is
imperative that I
see all your papers
at once!"
24
"Your Eminence was
right. There was a letter.
Nothing about Buckingham.
Plenty about you."
25
"Your Majesty knows
that I have always warmly
defended the Queen. If
she distrusts me I must
bear it with humility."
26
In Tarbes, a town in
the southern province of
Gascony -
27
An impoverished
nobleman sends forth
his son to seek his
fortune -
28
D'Artagnan
29
"Remember, my son,
that your ancient nobility
gives you the right to the
best in France."
30
"You are brave for two
reasons. First, because you
are a Gascon and, second,
because you are my son."
31
"You have thews of
iron and wrists of steel.
Fight on all occasions!"
32
"Fight the more
since duels are forbid-
den, for that means
double courage."
33
"Never forget these
things - loyalty to the
King - reverence for the
Cardinal - devotion to
the Queen -------"
34
"--- and my pride in
you - my love for you."
35
In Paris - fresh intrigue -
36
Repenting the impulse
that led to the humiliation
of the Queen, the King
strives to make amends -
37
"It took ten years to
collect and match those
twelve stones. They
cannot be duplicated."
38
"And the world
says kings and queens
are not happy!"
39
"I have come at a
propitious moment to
secure your signatures
to a decree."
40
And D'Artagnan little
realized, as he leisurely made
his way toward Paris, that he
was soon to be enmeshed in
a scandal involving the fore-
most courts of Europe.
41
"Meet Milady de
Winter at Meung. She
is to deliver this letter
to Buckingham and re-
main in England until I
send for her."
42
D'Artagnan takes
every smile for an
insult - every look as
a provocation -
43
The Inn at Meung -
44
"The exact shade of
a buttercup! The color
is common enough in
botany but - until now -
very rare among horses."
45
"Who laughs
at my horse --
laughs at me."
46
"Pardon me, madame.
I must kill your friend."
47
"To Buckingham with-
out delay -- by order of
the Cardinal."
48
"Coward!"
49
Thus chance left
these two men with
a score unsettled -
but they were to
meet again.
50
Paris -
51
A horse for a hat.
52
Bonacieux, uncle
to Constance -
53
"Can you tell
me where I might
find lodgings?"
54
Thus fate plays
her part again -
55
"Pardon me, mademoiselle.
Do you live in this house or
that house?"
56
"Marvellous!"
57
"I desire to secure
lodgings here."
58
In England - Buckingham
receives the forged letter -
59
"The letter has been
delivered, madame."
60
In Paris, the next
morning, D'Artagnan
calls on his father's old
friend, the Captain of
the King's Musketeers -
61
Monsieur de Tr�ville,
Captain of the King's
Musketeers -
62
The ambition
of his life - to be
one of these -
63
"Athos!"
64
"Porthos!"
65
"Aramis!"
66
"You know that fight-
ing is prohibited, yet you
fight - fight - fight! And
always with the Cardinal's
Guards."
67
"But if you must fight -
fight as you did yesterday."
68
"The three best
swordsmen in Paris."
69
"So you are from
Gascony - and the son
of my old friend."
70
"What brought
you to Paris?"
71
"I came to join
the Musketeers."
72
"My boy, these
Musketeers are all
picked men."
73
"All my life I've
dreamed, I've hoped,
I've prayed to be in
your regiment."
74
"Impossible! Serve
your apprenticeship
with the cadets for
two years -- and -
we shall see."
75
"My man of Meung!"
76
"Excuse me. I am
running after someone."
77
"You can find me
without running. Do
you understand?"
78
"Where?"
79
"Behind the Luxembourg."
80
"When?"
81
"One o'clock."
82
"Behind the Luxembourg."
83
"Permit me to observe,
monsieur, that in one respect
you are absolutely perfect.
You are the most perfect
idiot I have ever met!"
84
"Behind the Luxembourg
at one o'clock."
85
Possessed of Gascon
courage, D'Artagnan
wasted not a moment in
regret that his first day
in Paris had involved him
with the three best blades
of the time.
86
Behind the Luxembourg
at one o'clock -
87
"Gentlemen, I desire
to explain ----"
88
"If you kill me,
I shall have been
honored ----"
89
"If I kill you, I shall
regret it all my life - for
I love you every one."
90
"Monsieur Athos, on guard!"
91
"The Cardinal's Guards!"
92
"Hola! We are
in luck! You are
under arrest."
93
"Come and take us!"
94
"We are four against three!"
95
"Pardon, messieurs.
Four against four!"
96
"A young Gascon
played me foul."
97
"I'll find him and
carve him to ribbons."
98
"My young har-
pooner, perhaps you'll
arrange a time for me
to show you how to
use a sword correctly."
99
"That is Bernajoux
- the Cardinal's best
swordsman."
100
One for all and all for one.
101
Thus D'Artagnan,
in two days, became the
talk of Paris and won
for himself the loyal
comradeship that was to
last throughout his life.
102
Richelieu lodges
complaint that the
King's musketeers
have assaulted his
guards -
103
"Remember! I can-
not have the Cardinal
annoyed. Those who
disobey the edicts must
be - punished."
104
"Rest assured, Monsieur
le Cardinal, these men shall
be dealt with - properly."
105
"I commanded you
to fetch me these four
devils who have so
maltreated seven of the
Cardinal's best men.
Where are they?"
106
"But where is that
young cadet?"
107
"You rascal - you have
kept the King waiting!"
108
"So you are that
wild Gascon who
fights a regiment
single-handed?"
109
"For the future
I shall expect you
to be discreet."
110
"But not too discreet."
111
"I have a servant
for you - a fellow who
reflects before he acts."
112
"I found him on
a bridge, spitting in
the water to see
which way the river
was flowing."
113
"Your name?"
114
"Planchet."
115
"Your province?"
116
"Picardy."
117
As Richelieu's plans begin
to mature, Constance makes
ready to keep a mysterious
appointment -
118
"Certain messages
have been confided to
you. Tell me what they
are and to whom they
are to be delivered."
119
"I dare not delay.
Midnight is striking.
It is the hour I am
expected."
120
"Do not question me.
My mission is secret."
121
"Who is he?"
122
"Stop, in the
name of heaven!"
123
"His Grace, the Duke
of Buckingham."
124
"Lead on. I'll follow.
If anyone looks at you
I shall kill him."
125
The river entrance
to the palace -
126
"Milord, you have
been told that it was
not I who wrote to you
- yet you rashly insist
on this interview!"
127
"What does it matter?
Nothing matters but that
I see you again."
128
"You see me at the
risk of my honor - at
the risk of your life."
129
"So sweet a voice can
never pronounce the words
that separate us."
130
"Everything separates us ---"
131
"--- the depth of seas ---"
132
"--- the enmity
of kingdoms ---"
133
"--- the sanctity of vows!"
134
"I beseech you - relent."
135
"You must go - and
you must never return."
136
"Then something for
remembrance --- some-
thing that you have
worn - a ring - a chain -
a brooch -- that I may
wear it always."
137
"And now, Madame,
your Majesty and I share
a secret."
138
The last of the
King's gold -
139
Richelieu prepares
to make use of the
Queen's secret -
140
"How many days away
is the court ball?"
141
"Twelve."
142
"Go to England. Deliver
this to Milady de Winter."
143
While poverty still
stalks the four friends,
Aramis has secured
for himself an invita-
tion to dine -
144
"Father, I have a
friend I know you will
like. He's outside now.
May I bring him in?"
145
"Athos, you left
your purse."
146
"I trust I am not
intruding."
147
"Father, I have
a friend outside -
a fine fellow."
148
"Monsieur le Cardinal,
you always win!"
149
"When I have
bent my energies
to a purpose, I
have never failed."
150
D'Artagnan invites
his friends to dine -
151
"I wagered D'Artagnan
that he could not provide
a dinner without money.
Does he think Paris is
paved with food?"
152
"Patience, my friends.
This Gascon has a fashion
of winning his wagers."
153
Certain fortune-
favored members
of the Cardinal's
Guards are gathered
for a feast -
154
"Marvellous!"
155
"Intruder! How
dare you meddle with
our dinner!"
156
"Pardon, monsieur.
My dinner."
157
"I would allow you
to get your swords, but
- really, Messieurs - the
dinner is not worth it."
158
"Porthos must pay."
159
While in the palace,
the Queen, who has
been lulled to a fancied
security, receives a rude
awakening -
160
"Madame, I wish to
remind you that the court
ball is only six days away.
I request you to honor
me by wearing to it the
diamond buckle I recently
gave you."
161
"This is the end! I am lost!"
162
Ten minutes later
Constance arrives
at home -
163
"Can I trust you?"
164
"I love you."
165
"As rivers love
the sunlight."
166
"Are you sure?"
167
"I would give my
life for you."
168
"This may mean your life."
169
"Go to England. Get
the jewels from the Duke
of Buckingham and return
in all haste. The Queen's
happiness, her life, her
honor are in your hands."
170
"When you come back."
171
"Find Porthos and
Aramis and meet me
at De Tr�ville's."
172
Bonacieux sells
his information -
173
"Search Paris.
If D'Artagnan is
within the gates,
fetch him to me."
174
"On perilous expe-
ditions of this kind
you must pay toll.
Four must start if
one is to arrive."
175
"All for one and
one for all!"
176
"Be at the Barri�re du
Nord in half an hour."
177
"See that the way to
Calais - and beyond ---
is made unsafe."
178
"His Eminence presents
his compliments and desires
to see you at your earliest
convenience."
179
"At your earliest
convenience."
180
"D'Artagnan is below."
181
"When I drop this
handkerchief - fire."
182
"You were about to
leave Paris, Monsieur
D'Artagnan?"
183
"We can make it
very comfortable for
you in Paris."
184
"It is imperative that I go."
185
"Monsieur D'Artagnan,
if you were about to die,
what would you do?"
186
"Your Eminence,
I should write the
history of France."
187
"And what would you say?"
188
"I should speak
of her great men,
Monseigneur."
189
"Whom do you call great?"
190
"Monsieur le Cardinal,
Duc de Richelieu."
191
"And what would
you write of him?"
192
"That he is a great
statesman -------"
193
"--- a great poet ---"
194
"--- a great swordsman."
195
"You yourself,
are somewhat of
a swordsman."
196
"By the way - what was
that trick you employed to
best my man, Bernajoux?"
197
Thus four men rode
forth in the service of
their Queen -
198
A relentless power
exacts its first toll -
199
"That is D'Artagnan."
200
Porthos pays toll -
201
An inn near Calais -
202
Athos pays toll -
203
The port of Calais
from which D'Artagnan
plans to sail -
204
"The port will re-
main closed until you
receive further orders
from the Cardinal."
205
"It shall be as you say,
Count de Rochefort."
206
"My man of Meung!"
207
"You are on the
Queen's business,
master."
208
In England -
209
"Good! Say to His
Eminence that I am
attending the Duke's
f�te to-morrow night."
210
Under the cover
of midnight -
211
"Watch every boat
for my return and have
the horses ready."
212
"Set sail for England
this instant or I'll blow
out your brains!"
213
"My heart fails me.
Every foot of this road
is sown with danger."
214
"I'll stake my
life he is near the
shores of England
at this moment."
215
"You love him."
216
The f�te at the
palace of the Duke
of Buckingham -
217
"To the harbour."
218
"That is Milady de Winter."
219
"Milady de Winter
has just left your house -
bound for the harbour.
She is a friend of Roche-
fort, a tool of Richelieu.
She has the jewels!"
220
"The boat leaves
in half an hour."
221
"Perfect!"
222
"After you leave Calais,
go by way of Boulogne.
This ring will get you fresh
horses along that route."
223
Next morning - just
before the ship drops
anchor at Calais -
224
"We go by the long
route. No food, no
sleep, no rest until we
reach Paris."
225
The inn near Calais -
226
"Has Monsieur
D'Artagnan passed
this way?"
227
"Then he has gone by
the longer road. We can
reach Paris ahead of him.
Drive on."
228
The evening of
the court ball -
229
"You bungler! I place
the resources of a king-
dom at your command
and you fail. Imbecile!"
230
"Guard every entrance
to Paris. Line the streets.
D'Artagnan must not pass."
231
"Go to the ball.
Join the Queen -
never leave her for
an instant."
232
"Block every way
that leads to the palace.
Arrest that seamstress,
Constance."
233
"D'Artagnan -
dead or alive!"
234
The grand ball room
of the palace -
235
"Her Majesty is late.
I trust she will not forget
that you desired her to
wear your gift of jewels."
236
At the gates of
Paris D'Artagnan
scents danger -
237
"Our luck runs
too high. I smell
the Cardinal."
238
"Madame, why do you
appear here without your
diamond buckle?"
239
"Sire, I feared some
accident might befall it."
240
"You do wrong to
slight my wishes!"
241
"This is Fate!"
242
"This is for Meung -
and this for Constance!"
243
"Your Queen."
244
"My brave D'Artagnan,
let this token ever remind
you that you have won the
eternal gratitude of a Queen."
245
"Constance has disappeared."
246
"Joseph, I never
acknowledge defeat,
I make use of it."
247
"If you were about
to die, what would
you do?"
248
"Your Eminence, I
should still write the
history of France."
249
"Then set down in
your book, Monsieur
D'Artagnan, that Richelieu
was a generous foe."
250
"Marvellous!"
251
"And now, Monsieur
D'Artagnan, what say
you to a lieutenancy in
my Guards?"
252
"Your Eminence, my
dreams, my hopes, my
ambitions are all with
the Musketeers."
253
"I am offering him a
commission in my Guards."
254
"A commission in the
King's Musketeers."
255
And so, later in the
evening, De Tr�ville
presents to the King a
new Musketeer -
256
"D'Artagnan!"
257
So thus they lived in
France of old,
When blood was young and
hearts were bold,
And sword crossed sword
for honor then,
When life was life and
men were men.
THE END
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