The Three Musketeers · Chapter
Soubrette and Mistress explained
D'Artagnan, increasingly infatuated with Milady, discovers through her maid Kitty that Milady is in love with the Comte de Wardes, not him.
What happens
D'Artagnan, increasingly infatuated with Milady, discovers through her maid Kitty that Milady is in love with the Comte de Wardes, not him. Kitty confesses her own love for D'Artagnan. D'Artagnan, seeing an opportunity for revenge and conquest, uses Kitty to intercept Milady's letters and forges a reply from de Wardes, planning to seduce Milady by impersonating him.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This chapter marks the dramatic climax because Milady achieves a psychological breakthrough, successfully brea…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Deception and Disguise
D'Artagnan deceives both Kitty and Milady, forging letters and hiding in a closet to impersonate the Comte de Wardes.
- Love and Betrayal
Kitty betrays her mistress out of love for D'Artagnan, while D'Artagnan betrays Kitty's trust to pursue Milady.
Characters to notice
- D'Artagnan
Plots to avenge himself on Milady by using Kitty's love to gain access to Milady's chamber and impersonate the Comte de Wardes.
- Milady de Winter
Writes passionate letters to the Comte de Wardes, unaware that D'Artagnan is intercepting them and forging replies.
- Kitty
Milady's maid, in love with D'Artagnan, reluctantly helps him by revealing Milady's secrets and delivering his forged letter.
- Comte de Wardes
The rival for Milady's affections; D'Artagnan impersonates him by forging letters.
Key passages
“He whose game is the eagle takes no heed of the sparrow.”
A man focused on a grand prize ignores smaller opportunities.
Narrator's reflection on D'Artagnan's initial disregard for Kitty's affections.
“The perfidious deceiver was, as may plainly be perceived, already sacrificing, in intention, the poor girl in order to obtain Milady, willy-nilly.”
The treacherous schemer was already planning to use the poor girl to get to Milady, whether she agreed or not.
Narrator's commentary on D'Artagnan's manipulative intentions toward Kitty.
