Chapter 2 Summary

D'Artagnan arrives at the rooms of M. de Treville, the captain of the Musketeers. While he is waiting to see the captain, he observes many of the Musketeers lounging, talking and brandishing their swords in the antechamber to M. de Treville's cabinet. As a result of the conversations he overhears, he learns that the king's Musketeers are continually skirmishing with the cardinal's guards, and that there is much bad feeling between the two forces. He is astonished at this, because the cardinal is very powerful and exercises a great deal of political influence over the king.

D'Artagnan is especially struck by two Musketeers whose conversation dominates the group. One is a man named Porthos, who obviously pays careful attention to dressing well. He accepts many admiring comments on a magnificent belt he is wearing that is just visible under his cloak, and for...