The Three Musketeers

by

Alexandre Dumas

The Three Musketeers: Chapter 56 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
With only a few days left before she is sent to a penal colony, Milady realizes that she has to put every ounce of her talent into her upcoming meeting with Felton. As usual, Lord de Winter comes by to make sure that everything is up to his approval. When he is satisfied, he leaves. Several hours later, just after midnight, Felton arrives. Milady asks Felton if he brought a knife. At first, Felton protests, but then he quickly gives in and puts the knife on the table.
Although Lord de Winter did not think it was possible, it seems Milady still managed to outfox him. Felton’s willingness to bring her a knife suggests that he is no longer someone who can be trusted.
Themes
Seduction and Romance Theme Icon
Now that Felton has fulfilled his side of the deal, it is time for Milady to fulfill hers. Milady starts telling Felton a story that she’s made up. It is a horrible story about how she was once kidnapped, drugged, and then sexually assaulted by a man. In the story, the man claims he is in love with Milady and repeatedly asks her to marry him. However, Milady continually rejects his proposal. In response, the man grows angry and assaults her again. In an attempt to avoid being drugged, Milady stops eating the food her captor brings her. At one point, she even tries to kill him by stabbing him in the chest, but she fails because he is wearing chain mail. The whole time Milady tells her story, Felton is completely engrossed; it is clear that he believes every word.
Milady’s story is horrible, and it demonstrates how terribly she is willing to distort reality to get what she wants. By telling Felton such a terrible tale, she is corrupting his sympathy to turn him against Lord de Winter. Additionally, Milady purposely saves the name of the man who supposedly did all of these terrible things until the end of her story.
Themes
Seduction and Romance Theme Icon