Dumas stresses the importance of d’Artagnan’s being a Gascon by paralleling his early years with Treville’s early years. Like d’Artagnan, Treville is also a Gascon. Possessing the same courageous and adventuresome qualities that d’Artagnan possesses, Treville has risen to be one of the most powerful men in France. Thus we can anticipate that d’Artagnan, who is also endowed with quick-witted daring, shrewd, intelligent bravery, and courageous loyalty, will use these qualities to become a success in Paris.
In this world of the 1620s, perhaps the most significant attribute that both Treville and d’Artagnan possess is their absolute sense of loyalty and devotion to either a person or a cause. Indeed, Treville’s absolute devotion to his king is part of his power. Likewise, we will soon see that d’Artagnan is the type of man who is absolutely loyal to his friends; in the upcoming episode when the king gives d’Artagnan forty pistoles, d’Artagnan immediately divides the money with Athos, Porthos, and Aramis because of his instantaneous sense of loyalty to them. Later, d’Artagnan’s devotion and loyalty to the queen will motivate many of his actions.
Since Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—the three musketeers—share many similarities, it is important to note their differences. All of them have assumed aliases, but we sense that only Athos has noble blood; he conducts himself as a young nobleman might. Porthos, on the other hand, relishes in the intrigues of society, and he prides himself on his many romantic conquests; later, when he is in need of money, he will use his charm and good looks to obtain money from a wealthy woman. In contrast, Aramis is passing his time as a musketeer only until the queen provides an heir for the realm; afterward, Aramis will enter the priesthood. Then we many other differences in the men that will be noted later, but, for the present, these differences are sufficient to help us readily distinguish one from the other.
Ironically, just as d’Artagnan is about to receive Treville’s recommendation for the Royal Academy, the mysterious “man from Meung” reenters d’Artagnan’s life—causing d’Artagnan to dash out of Treville’s house without the new letter of recommendation. In only minutes, d’Artagnan re-wounds Athos, rushes into the proud Porthos and reveals the man’s fraudulent golden shoulder belt, and, finally, he contradicts Aramis about the ownership of a lady’s batiste handkerchief. In less than twenty-four hours after arriving in Paris, d’Artagnan finds himself challenged to duels by three of the greatest swordsmen in France.
