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Twenty Years After: Broussel
Every Frondist wears a straw in his hat. Everywhere there are cries of "Down with Mazarin"--"Long live Broussel." Riot is rampant in all parts of the city and the tumult swells to a revolution. The mob presses forward to the very gates of the royal palace, demanding the release of Counselor Broussel, who has been imprisoned. "Never!" cries the queen, but the gates are stormed and she yields, and Broussel is enthusiastically welcomed by the populace. Affairs are now so serious that the queen resolves to leave Paris. D'Artagnan and Porthos effect her escape, and that of Mazarin, and the court is established at St.-Germain; after which the two cavaliers are sent to England with a message from Mazarin to Cromwell. They are ordered to obey an officer who proves to be Mordaunt, of whom Aramis has by letter warned them to beware. They make their way to the royalist camp at Newcastle, where Mordaunt bribes the Scotch Highlanders to desert their king, and when Charles attempts to escape an engagement takes place, during which d'Artagnan and Porthos take two prisoners, who turn out to be their old friends Athos and Aramis. Mordaunt recognizes them and is, by Cromwell, allowed to dispose of them as he will, but they get away before he can seize them.
The four musketeers meet and resolve to rescue King Charles. They get the captain of his guard into a game of cards and make the attempt, but Mordaunt appears with soldiers and they flee to London, disguise themselves and attend the trial and execution of the king. They corner Mordaunt in Cromwell's house, but he escapes from them by a secret passage and they plan to get back to France.
They engage a vessel to take them across the Channel, but Mordaunt is ahead of them, hiding in the cabin. There are five barrels of powder aboard which he intends to explode after making his escape in the small boat. But his diabolical plan is discovered; the four friends with their servants cut the small boat adrift; the vessel blows up and Mordaunt, trying to drown Athos, is killed.
The musketeers reach France and find the Parisians furious. The queen, having been asked to retire, had answered with a threat, and the populace demanded that Mazarin retire at once from court, and in a week from France. Civil war ensues, and at the battle of Charenton Aramis and Athos learn that d'Artagnan and Porthos have been arrested. Athos goes to the queen to secure their release and is himself seized, and all three are imprisoned in the pavilion of the orangery at Rouel; but they overcome the guard and seize Mazarin and bear him away to Porthos's chateau, where they make him sign a treaty with the Frondists, which is afterward confirmed by the queen. Porthos obtains his baronetcy and d'Artagnan is made captain of the Musketeers. The queen returns to Paris. Aramis leaves for Normandy, accompanied by Mme. de Longueville. Athos retires to his estate at Bragelonne. Porthos goes back to Bracieux.
D'Artagnan remains in the royal service, hoping some day to be marechal of France, saying to Madeleine, his hostess: "Give me your apartment on the first floor. Now that I am a captain in the Musketeers I must make an appearance. Nevertheless, still keep my room on the fifth story for me; one never knows what may happen."