Alexandre Dumas' "Twenty Years After" - Chapter 35 Commentary - “A Dinner in the Old Style”
100 Days of Alexandre Dumas' "Twenty Years After" - first sequel to "The Three Musketeers" - June 1 - August 31, 2025
100 Days of Alexandre Dumas' "Twenty Years After"
First sequel to "The Three Musketeers"
June 1 - August 31, 2025
July 8
Chapters 35
“A Dinner in the Old Style”
Ah, Mon Dieu, how I wish to go to such a dinner - where you can joke about EVERYTHING - no hurt feeling on any side…
“The first words exchanged between the four friends, on account of the ceremony which each of them mingled with their demonstration, were somewhat forced and even the repast began with a kind of stiffness. Athos perceived this embarrassment, and by way of supplying an effectual remedy, called for four bottles of champagne.”
Am I to get all teary eyed with EACH and EVERY chapter of this novel?! Ah, Dumas, a man after my heart!!!
“In a very few minutes the four bottles were empty and this excellent specific succeeded in dissipating even the slightest cloud that might have rested on their spirits. Now the four friends began to speak loud, scarcely waiting till one had finished before another began, and each assumed his favorite attitude on or at the table. Soon—strange fact—Aramis undid two buttons of his doublet, seeing which, Porthos unfastened his entirely.
Battles, long journeys, blows given and received, sufficed for the first themes of conversation, which turned upon the silent struggles sustained against him who was now called the great cardinal.”
The “great cardinal” - despised and feared while alive - is venerated now as the great man who saved France at her greatest hour of need… And the current cardinal?! Butt of jokes!!! BUT so is Duc de Beaufort - which is remarkable - considering the four musketeers are sworn enemies - two of the duke - and two of the cardinal…
“Cudgeling” or “cajoling”?! I burst out laughing here!!! GREAT translation!!!
But what can dampen the glowing atmosphere of this convivial evening?… Memory of an old crime…
““Well?” asked Aramis.
“Well, I shall look upon it as an expiation.”
“The affair at Armentières?” asked he again.
“Milady.””
D’Artagnan’s honesty is disarming…
“I know that it is terrible,” said D’Artagnan; “but when I reflect that we have killed English, Rochellais, Spaniards, nay, even French, who never did us any other harm but to aim at and to miss us, whose only fault was to cross swords with us and to be unable to ward off our blows—I can, on my honor, find an excuse for my share in the murder of that woman.”
The hour of justice - or revenge - has come…
““Your honors,” said he, “that woman had a child; that child has become a man; the tigress had a little one, the tiger has roused himself; he is ready to spring upon you—beware!”
“A child!” he exclaimed. “Do you know what he has done, this child? Disguised as a monk he discovered the whole history in confession from the executioner of Bethune, and having confessed him, after having learned everything from him, he gave him absolution by planting this dagger into his heart. See, it is on fire yet with his hot blood, for it is not thirty hours since it was drawn from the wound.””
Linden alley at the Palais-Royal - where in “Twenty Years After,” the first sequel to “The Three Musketeers,” D’Artagnan, Portos, Athos, and Aramis meet - under a full moon, naturally - to confirm their friendship despite their political and ideological disagreements!!! A lesson for our times…
