The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas tells a story starts with D’Artagnan came to Paris wishing to join the king's musketeers. He immediately went to see their captain, Treville. While hurrying, he angers three of the best musketeers; Porthos, Athos, and Aramis. And every one challenges him to a duel with D’Artagnan. Since dueling is illegal, the guard came. The musketeers happily beat the guards with D’Artagnan, and he became a friend to the three of them.

D’Artagnan soon settled in in Paris, wishing that he would be a musketeer soon. In the meantime, he rented an apartment above a shop. 

A cardinal and an evil lady named Milady de Winter tried to remove the name the queen with the king's name, therefore giving the cardinal more power than the king. The queen is trying to stop the forces of the English Duke of Buckingham. A trusted wife has become the messenger of the queen and the Duke of Buckingham. She had also become a target for the cardinal who thinks that she can expose the queen. D’Artagnan was involved when he met Milady and was shocked by her performance, elegance, and intelligence.

About this time, Athos, to distract D’Artagnan told him about a man who married and he later found out that he was a thief was convicted, thief. He believes the evil woman is now dead. The man is, of course, Athos, but he doesn’t tell D’Artagnan that.

Next, the Cardinal, through Milady tricked Buckingham into coming to Paris. Buckingham went to Paris, but the queen refused his proposal. He asked for a gift,  and the queen gave him twelve diamonds; then, with D’Artagnan’s help, he left England safely. 

Still plotting to trap Queen Anne, Richelieu suggested King Louis give a ball ten days hence at which the queen can wear the diamond studs the king has given her, and he sent Milady to London to steal the jewels from Buckingham. Learning of the ball, the queen wrote to Buckingham to return the jewels to her, and she asks D’Artagnan to take the letter to England. D’Artagnan enlisted the help of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis; and the four raced off to England.

The next morning, Milady arrived at the dock first and tried to get the jewels, but Buckingham would not give her the studs, so she stabbed him. D’Artagnan arrived, preventing her from stealing the jewels, but not in time to prevent Buckingham’s death.

Finally, the four caught up with Milady. They accused her of her various crimes and passed the sentence of death—and Athos recognized her as his past wife he thought was dead. However, Milady cheated them of revenge by stabbing herself. The musketeers kneel and ask for God’s forgiveness on all of them.

All in all, this book is a great read. It teaches lots of valuable lessons.  But the central part why I think this book is so good is from the character Milady. She is the most intriguing character in all the books I've read. The author emphasizes on what they do and don't do and includes many details.

Questions: 
1. What was the poison disguised as?
2. Who was D'Artagnan's father?
3. What's Milady's name?

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