Fort of the Point

The Fort of the Point stands at the mouth of the Charente River, a strategic coastal fortification that Cardinal Richelieu repurposed as a clandestine point of departure for his most dangerous agent. It is here that the cardinal's plans for the destruction of the Duke of Buckingham are set in motion, and here that Milady, after her harrowing escape from captivity, finally sets sail for England to carry out her mission of assassination.

Location and Strategic Role

The Fort of the Point is situated at the mouth of the Charente River, a position that commands the approach to the river and the port of La Rochelle. Its military significance is underscored by the cardinal's use of it as a secure embarkation point for his secret operations. It is to this fort that Milady is directed after her meeting with the cardinal at the Red Dovecot inn, where she receives her final instructions. The cardinal tells her, "A small vessel with an English crew, whose captain is on my side, awaits you at the mouth of Charente, at fort of the Point. He will set sail tomorrow morning" . This makes the fort the critical link between the cardinal's command and the execution of his plot against Buckingham.

Milady's Departure for England

Following her secret conference with Cardinal Richelieu, Milady is escorted to the Fort of the Point by two men assigned by the cardinal. The journey is carried out under cover of darkness, and she arrives at the fort at seven o'clock in the morning after traveling all night . The fort serves as the final point of contact on French soil before her voyage to England. Athos, having overheard the cardinal's instructions, intercepts Milady at the inn and, after a tense confrontation, allows her to proceed, knowing she is bound for the fort. He tells the two men waiting for her, "Monseigneur's order is, you know, to conduct that woman, without losing time, to the fort of the Point, and never to leave her till she is on board" . At eight o'clock, she embarks from the fort, and at nine, the vessel, bearing letters of marque from the cardinal, raises anchor and steers its course toward England .

Narrative Significance

The Fort of the Point functions as a threshold between the French court's internal machinations and the international stage of the Anglo-French conflict. It is the point of no return for Milady's mission, the place where the cardinal's whispered orders are transformed into action. The fort's remote and fortified nature underscores the secrecy and gravity of the enterprise, and its location on the Charente, a river that leads to the besieged city of La Rochelle, ties it directly to the central military campaign of the novel. The fort is thus not merely a geographical location but a symbol of the cardinal's far-reaching power and the deadly efficiency of his network of agents.