Synopsis
Cardinal Richelieu, for political reasons an enemy of the Queen, desires her downfall. He decoys Buckingham, of whom the King is jealous, to Paris by means of a forged letter. D'Artagnan leaves for Paris to enter the King's service. His father gives him a letter to De Treville and bids him "Honor the King, obey Capt. De Treville and never refuse to fight." Poorly dressed, and riding on an old spavined white horse, D'Artagnan arrives at the Black Raven Inn, near Calais. He is insulted and jeered at, resenting which, he is beaten insensible and robbed of his letter by De Rochefort. Regaining consciousness he learns of his loss and starts in pursuit of the thief. The Cardinal issues an edict prohibiting dueling and gambling in public places. Boniface finds six Musketeers gambling in his tavern. He notifies the Guards, who surprise the Musketeers, kill three, wound Athos, and arrest Aramis and Porthos. Reaching the street, Porthos overpowers his captors and rescues Aramis. The Queen learning that Buckingham is in Paris, consents to see him secretly for the last time. Constance delivers the message. Boniface, her husband, observes this and reports the matter to Richelieu, who sets Lady De Winter to watch the Queen. D'Artagnan's first day in Paris is eventful. He manages to offend Athos. Aramis and Porthos and has three duels on his hands. The Three Musketeers are surprised to find they are all to fight the same man. D'Artagnan and Athos start to fight, but are interrupted by Capt. Jassac and four other Cardinal's Guards, who demand that all surrender their swords. The Three Musketeers cry: "Come and take them." D'Artagnan sides with the Musketeers, quickly disposes of his adversary and saves Athos from being run through by Jussac, whom he disarms. Astounded by D'Artagnan's courage and swordsmanship, the victorious Musketeers welcome him as a comrade and with swords crossed pledge themselves: "One for all land all for one." The King has quarreled with the Queen. Desiring a reconciliation, he presents her with twelve diamond studs. Buckingham is admitted to the Queen's presence by means of a secret passage. Lady DeWinter, unobserved, witnesses the clandestine meeting. She informs the Cardinal and he in triumph tells the King that Buckingham is with the Queen. The King proceeds to the Queen's apartment, but Constance warns her of his approach. Buckingham begs for a token and is given the first object at band, the diamond studs. The King arrives to find the bird has flown. Search is made without result and the King after threatening the Queen with the block, orders Richelieu to search the Queen's apartment and even her person if necessary. The search results in the Cardinal taking from the Queen's person an unaddressed letter. Richelieu hastens to the King and hands him the letter, but the King's rage is turned to laughter when he finds it is the Queen's brother, the Emperor of Germany, demanding Richelieu's dismissal. Defeated but not beaten, the Cardinal plots again, and dispatches Lady De Winter to London to steal two of the studs. The King, at Richelieu's suggestion, decides to give a state ball, and requests the Queen to wear the studs. The Queen, in despair, seeks Constance's aid, and she promises that her husband, Boniface, will take a message to Buckingham in London and bring back the jewels. Boniface not only refuses to be the Queen's messenger, but tells Constance that he is in the Cardinal's pay and suggests she give him the Queen's letter, so that he may obtain further reward. His request denied, he attempts force, but is frustrated by D'Artagnan. Boniface foiled, informs the Cardinal, who sends two of his guards to arrest Constance. D'Artagnan, not knowing Constance is Boniface's wife, is smitten by her charms, but Athos discourages him and tells him of his experience with women. Years before he had married Lady De Winter, then under another name, and by chance discovered she was a branded felon and hung her for deceiving him. Unknown to him, she had been rescued. The Cardinal's Guards attempt to arrest Constance, but D'Artagnan and Athos rescue her. Boniface being killed in the fight. D'Artagnan and Constance seek De Treville's advice, and he dispatches D'Artagnan to England with the Queen's message, ordering the Three Musketeers to accompany him and see to his safety. At parting Constance gives D'Artagnan a cross she has worn since an infant. Richelieu, learning of the plans, sends De Rochefort to Calais with orders to prevent D'Artagnan leaving England. On the road to the coast. D'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers are waylaid by a large force of armed men, who overcome the Musketeers, but D'Artagnan makes his escape. De Rochefort reaches Calais shortly after Buckingham has gone on board his ship, and the Port Warden, obeying the Cardinal's orders, has the portcullis lowered. Lady De Winter, provided with the Cardinal's passport, is aided to board Buckingham's ship. The Duke recognizes her as his divorced wife. D'Artagnan arrives, and is refused passage by the Port Warden, but binds and gags him and makes his escape in an open boat. He is fired upon and wounded by the Guards, led by the Port Warden, who has been released by De Rochefort. D'Artagnan reaches Buckingham's ship, and while the Duke is on deck interviewing D'Artagnan, Lady De Winter steals two of the studs. Returning to the cabin with D'Artagnan, Buckingham becomes suspicious and accuses him of being Milady's accomplice, and orders her put ashore. D'Artagnan produces the Queen's letter and swears by the cross Constance had given him that he is a friend. Buckingham recognizing the cross exclaims, "The woman who gave you that cross is my daughter." Giving D'Artagnan the diamonds, the Duke discovers that two of the studs are missing, and decides Lady De Winter has taken them. To avoid capture, D'Artagnan decides to swim ashore. He dives through the porthole and eventually lands on a wild part of the coast. Seeking shelter at a tavern, D'Artagnan's gold arouses the cupidity of the landlord, who shoots and robs him and flings his body into the cellar. Lady De Winter returns to Paris sooner than expected and delivers the studs to the Cardinal. Believing D'Artagnan safe in England, the Cardinal influences the King to hold the ball two days earlier. The day of the ball arrives, with no news of D'Artagnan and the Queen is in despair. Endless crowds of courtiers and ladies are seen descending the grand staircase and a gavotte is in progress when the heralds announce the approach of the King and Queen. The stately procession enters and the King is about to lead the Queen to the dance, when the Cardinal calls attention to the fact that the Queen is not wearing the studs. The King insists that she wear them; the Queen returns to her apartment, where Constance offers to sacrifice herself by saying she had stolen the diamonds. D'Artagnan' s opportune return with the studs saves the day. The Queen returns to the ballroom, while D'Artagnan tells Constance that the Duke of Buckingham is her father and receives his greatest reward, herself. The King shows pleasure at the sight of the studs, but the wily Cardinal suggests he count them, and finding there are only ten, asks where the other two are. Lady De Winter produces them and tells the King how she obtained them. At this climax Athos recognizes Lady De Winter, and proclaiming her a thief, forces her to her knees, tears away her dress, exposing to the horror of all the brand of the felon. Her arrest is ordered despite her vain appeals to the Cardinal. The King realizing the conspiracy, banishes the Cardinal, and after asking her pardon, leads the Queen to the dance.
