The Three Musketeers

Original title: Les Trois Mousquetaires

Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870)

Original en 228997 words First published 1844 France

Alexandre Dumas' 1844 romance, the most famous adventure novel ever written. The young Gascon d'Artagnan rides to Paris to join the king's musketeers and within a day has made an enemy of Cardinal Richelieu's agent and a friend of three of the finest swordsmen in France — Athos, Porthos and Aramis, all for one and one for all. Their business becomes the queen's diamond studs, the siege of La Rochelle and the beautiful, poison-armed Milady de Winter. Serialised to the taste of Paris and then copied all over the world, it turned the historical novel into an industry and a national myth.

Text sourced from Project Gutenberg (public domain in the United States); the Project Gutenberg trademark and license text have been removed on import. Public-domain status determined by the author's death year + 50 years rule.

001 AUTHOR’S PREFACE In which it is proved that, notwithstanding their… 2584 words
002 Nevertheless, D’Artagnan was desirous of examining the appearance of… 2502 words
003 “Milady,” faltered D’Artagnan, and fainted a second time. 2638 words
004 Louis XIV. absorbed all the smaller stars of his court in his own… 2531 words
005 “Porthos, you are as vain as Narcissus; I plainly tell you so,” replied Aramis. 2518 words
006 D’Artagnan bowed without replying, feeling his desire to don the… 2500 words
007 Alas, like most things in this world which have nothing in their… 2559 words
008 In addition to this, D’Artagnan possessed that invincible stock of… 2517 words
009 D’Artagnan then cast an anxious and rapid glance over the field of battle. 2589 words
010 Unfortunately for D’Artagnan, among the spectators was one of his… 2531 words
011 M. de Tréville entered the king’s cabinet boldly, and found his… 2580 words
012 The king waved his hand to Tréville, who left him and rejoined the… 2603 words
013 At this Athos would smile, with his charming, melancholy smile, which… 2533 words
014 “I know not.” “Have you no information as to his abiding place?” “None. 2505 words
015 “Just so,” replied Aramis. 2506 words
016 At that moment Mme. Bonacieux recovered her senses. She opened her… 2575 words
017 Then D’Artagnan, disposed to become the most tender of lovers, was at… 2505 words
018 “Which?” “That which I found at your feet, and replaced in your… 2511 words
019 “My Lord, Madame, I ask a hundred pardons! 2515 words
020 “Madame de Chevreuse was not queen,” murmured Anne of Austria… 2507 words
021 “Fortunately, Monsieur d’Artagnan is in our hands, and you shall be… 2504 words
022 “Did you go into these houses with her?” “Never, monseigneur; I… 2566 words
023 But when the cardinal added that not only Mme. 2537 words
024 “She is not the less guilty, Monsieur Duke! 2546 words
025 The king, quite delighted, inquired if the cardinal was still at the… 2506 words
026 “My husband had been at liberty these two or three days. 2516 words
027 “Have me arrested on the part of the queen,” said he, “and I—I will… 2501 words
028 The stranger went out. “Infamous!” said Mme. Bonacieux, addressing… 2510 words
029 “To Calais,” said D’Artagnan; “that is the most direct line to… 2521 words
030 “Nothing would be more easy,” said the captain of a vessel ready to… 2580 words
031 The duke approached the altar, knelt as a priest might have done… 2506 words
032 “Everything is paid,” replied the host, “and liberally. 2535 words
033 Although D’Artagnan did not at all know the queen, he soon… 2505 words
034 “Oh, the women, the women!” cried the old soldier. 2537 words
035 Eleven o’clock sounded. D’Artagnan began now really to fear that… 2558 words
036 M. de Tréville listened to the young man’s account with a seriousness… 2515 words
037 “Yes, that is my companion’s name. 2507 words
038 “Well?” “Well, she must be at her country seat, for she has not… 2591 words
039 But D’Artagnan took very little heed of the eloquent discourse of M. 2550 words
040 “We will dine directly, my friend; only you must please to remember that this is Friday. 2502 words
041 Bazin appeared on the threshold, dull and spiritless. 2593 words
042 “‘In the first place,’ said he, ‘I wish my lackey placed with me… 2517 words
043 “Tender hearts! Pierced hearts!” said Athos. “What do you say?” “I… 2516 words
044 “Well, what next?” said D’Artagnan, laughing in spite of himself. 2503 words
045 “Of my hundred pistoles? Why, in the first place I gave you fifty.”… 2545 words
046 “But, Monsieur Porthos,” murmured the procurator’s wife, who began to… 2559 words
047 “Well done, Planchet! you are the king of lackeys. Now jump onto your… 2504 words
048 “The devil! my dear Athos, you view things on the dark side… 2500 words
049 “Indeed!” thought Porthos, casting a glance at the three hungry… 2500 words
050 “You have not answered my first note. 2534 words
051 Chapter XXXIV. IN WHICH THE EQUIPMENT OF ARAMIS AND PORTHOS IS… 2505 words
052 “There is no harm in trying to buy things cheap, Monsieur Porthos,”… 2601 words
053 The heart of the best woman is pitiless toward the sorrows of a rival. 2500 words
054 “But,” said he, as he retired as quickly as possible from the… 2518 words
055 In spite of his habitual silence, the poor lad this time found his speech. 2643 words
056 He might perhaps have been bought for less; but while D’Artagnan was… 2509 words
057 Half past seven had sounded. 2507 words
058 D’Artagnan went out, but at the door his heart almost failed him, and… 2558 words
059 This was evidently an ambuscade. 2534 words
060 “But what were you to do with that woman?” asked D’Artagnan, with anguish. 2517 words
061 “I like the means well enough,” said D’Artagnan, “but where and how… 2507 words
062 “Monseigneur, being of a very mild disposition, and being, likewise… 2693 words
063 “That is it,” replied the cardinal, dryly. 2530 words
064 “Who goes there?” cried he, as soon as he perceived the horsemen. 2531 words
065 Athos took off his hat, placed it on the end of his sword, and waved it in the air. 2501 words
066 “And I mine,” said Porthos. 2504 words
067 “Well?” asked the cardinal, on seeing La Houdinière return. 2578 words
068 “Capital!” cried Athos; “you are the king of poets, my dear Aramis. 2520 words
069 At length they reached the tent, lit a lamp, and while Planchet stood… 2503 words
070 In an instant all the strength of mind of this creature, though drawn… 2605 words
071 Milady, finding her thoughts betrayed, dug her nails into her flesh… 2501 words
072 Grimaud therefore added nothing to his speech, but contented himself… 2573 words
073 Yes; but in order to avenge herself she must be free. 2527 words
074 Milady made no reply, but turning her beautiful head round upon her… 2587 words
075 Milady folded her hands, and raising her fine eyes toward heaven… 2511 words
076 But although her voice—sweet, full, and sonorous—vibrated as… 2575 words
077 Milady waited, then, with much impatience, for she feared the day… 2594 words
078 “I dressed myself as quickly as possible; my slow and stiff motions… 2509 words
079 “I had but one wish; that was that he should kill me. 2501 words
080 “No,” cried Felton, “no; you shall live and you shall be avenged.”… 2513 words
081 A black point floated on the sea. 2508 words
082 “By force? You are joking! Holloa, Patrick!” “Sign, my Lord!”… 2532 words
083 There was no further question, therefore, about Marie Michon among… 2535 words
084 “No, that is true; but she—that is another thing; I believe she is… 2528 words
085 MY DEAR CHILD, Hold yourself ready. 2518 words
086 “The good George!” said she, closing the window with an expression of… 2500 words
087 “Why, my companion. She who out of friendship for me wished to take… 2549 words
088 Athos required no more. He arose, bowed, went out, returned by the… 2522 words
089 “What man is that? What man is that?” cried Milady, suffocated by… 2525 words
090 “Well, gentlemen,” said the brave captain, “I hope you have been well… 2515 words
091 “Wonderfully,” said D’Artagnan; “but I come to offer you a dress… 837 words

The Three Musketeers

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