The diamond drill., 1921-06-04
&C a LII for one; and one for
~ air.
4 n This was the oath of the

This was the oath OF the
four comrades: OF d'Artagnan, the
young guardsman. and of Athos, Por-
thos and Aramis, the Three Mus
keteers.
Only three months had dArtagnan
been in Paris. yet already he was the
chosen companion of the noblest three
in M. de Treville's picked company OF
musketeers. In the service Of Louis
MIL A true Gascon, fiercely proud,
ready TO fight at word. the eighteen
year-old provincial lad had won the re-
spect of the glorious three by challeng-
Ing them, and their friendship by help
ing them 10 drive Off the cardinals
guards who would have arrested them
for duellng. Indeed, this latter ex-
plot had won for d'Artagnan more
than a glance from the king himself.
who was not displeased TO see Richie
lieus men worsted by his own.
At Meung, even before reaching
Paris. d'Artagnan had had an honor
able encounter, his adversary being a
tall. commanding stranger OF olivine
complexion and SCARED on the cheek.
A beautiful woman had accompanied
this man. Both their faces were
stamped on d'Artagnan's memory.
Before he could be admitted to the
musketeers, d'Artagnan was TO serve
probation as guardsman but already
he was a musketeer in spirit and his
comrades longed as keenly as he for
the day when he would be allowed TO
join their company. Athos. Porthos
and Aramis were alike only in soldier
ly qualities. Athos was OF noble bear
ing and when he was drunk, he would
talk Of a secret sorrow; Porthos was
great lover Of ladies', and declared
that his conquests would bring his
downfall; Aramis, who had friends In
the church and a sweetheart at court,
pretended that he was only temporarily
a musketeer. and would willingly
change his plumed hat for a monks
cowl when the time came.
One day d'Artagnan's landlord, Bon
ancieux, burst into the room with news
that Madame BonancIeux. pretty
seamstress I'm the service OF the queen.
had just been abducted. From the
landlords description d'Artagnan rec
ognized the abductor as his man OF
Meung. and was anxious TO help, the
more so when he learned that the OBJ
Ject OF the abduction was 10 force the
lady TO tell what she knew OF the love
affair between the queen and George
villiers. Duke OF Buckingham, who
was coming secretly TO Paris.
II was in their resolve to protect
Madame Bonancieux, for whom the i'm
pressionable d'Artgnan had suddenly
conceived an undying affection, that
the four comrades came together In
their oath.
Remember" said Aramis, "hence;
forth we are at issue with the Car
dinal."
Aided by dArtagnan, who f'ught off
the Cardinals officers, the lady con-
trlved 10 escape He declared his love
for her. but she would promise moth
ing. Next time he saw her she was
conducting the Duke OF buckingham,
disguised as a musketeer. toward the
hR3ui HtlAAtts ~ " stitdkitAH AttQ lOi-
lowed he would have learned that the
queen did indeed lote Buckingham. but
was loyal 20 the king. AS token she
gave Buckingham twelve diamond
studs the king had given her.
A spy reported this 10 Richeiieu.
who saw In It an opportunity 20 attack
the king, the queen and the duke all
NJ once. First Richelleu asked the
king 10 give ballet for tha queen and
20 ask her 20 wear the diamond studs,
and then he sent a message TO Lady
de Winter IN London. telling her 20
steal two OF the studs from Bucking.
ham. Learning Of This plot through
Madame Bonancieux. d'Artanan re-
solved 10 serve both his lady and his
queen BY recovering the Jewels. For
London the four comrades set out.
Beset by the Cardinals men on the
road, three were wounded. and only