The Vicomte de Bragelonne · Chapter
The Promenade by Torchlight explained
Madame, suspecting a secret love affair between King Louis XIV and Louise de La Vallière, deliberately excludes La Vallière from a torchlight promenade to Saint-Germain, ordering her to remain behind.
What happens
Madame, suspecting a secret love affair between King Louis XIV and Louise de La Vallière, deliberately excludes La Vallière from a torchlight promenade to Saint-Germain, ordering her to remain behind. Meanwhile, Malicorne and Saint-Aignan secretly construct a trapdoor and staircase in La Vallière's room to enable the king to visit her. Montalais feigns a sprained foot to manipulate events, and the king, impatient and desperate, agrees to the promenade as a diversion, unaware of the plot unfolding.
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 is the story's dramatic climax because Raoul reaches his emotional and psychological nadir, fully interna…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Court Intrigue and Deception
Madame's suspicion and manipulation, Montalais's feigned injury, and the secret construction of a trapdoor all exemplify the deceptive maneuvers within the court.
- Love and Sacrifice
Louis XIV's impatience and willingness to endure torture for love, and La Vallière's quiet acceptance of exclusion, highlight the sacrifices made for romantic attachment.
- Power and Ambition
The king's authority is tested by his own emotions, while Malicorne's industrious scheming shows ambition to gain favor through secret service.
Characters to notice
- Louise de La Vallière
Excluded from the promenade by Madame's order; inwardly delighted at the prospect of solitude, unaware of the secret construction in her room.
- Mademoiselle de Montalais
Feigns a sprained foot to avoid the promenade and manipulates Madame into excluding La Vallière; writes a laconic note to Malicorne.
- Louis XIV
Impatient and feverish with love for La Vallière; agrees to the torchlight promenade to Saint-Germain as a diversion, following Saint-Aignan's advice.
- De Guiche
Mentioned as part of the group of officers; Montalais feigns her injury near him.
- Malicorne
Orchestrates the secret construction of a trapdoor and staircase in La Vallière's room; communicates with Montalais via notes.
- Henrietta of England
Madame; suspects the king's secret love for La Vallière and deliberately excludes her from the promenade to thwart any rendezvous.
- Mademoiselle de Tonnay-Charente
Selected by Madame to accompany her on the promenade, along with Montalais.
Key passages
“Let us amuse ourselves by doing nothing, and making ourselves miserable.”
We find entertainment in idleness and in making ourselves unhappy.
Montalais quotes the late king's remark to Cinq-Mars to describe La Vallière's supposed desire for solitude.
“I will not be their dupe though”
I refuse to be fooled by them.
Madame resolves not to be deceived by the apparent plans of the king and La Vallière.
“She shall.”
She will comply.
Montalais's laconic note to Malicorne confirms that La Vallière will be made to stay behind.
