Forward!

Forward! is a password given by the Duke of Buckingham to d'Artagnan during their meeting in London, following the successful recovery of the queen's diamond studs. The password was part of a carefully orchestrated system of relays that allowed d'Artagnan to travel from the English coast to Paris with extraordinary speed, changing horses at pre-arranged inns without delay or suspicion.

Origin and Context

The password was established during d'Artagnan's second visit to Buckingham, after the duke had arranged for the replacement of the two missing diamond studs. Recognizing the urgency of d'Artagnan's mission to return the studs to Queen Anne of Austria before the ball at the Hotel de Ville, Buckingham devised a system of relays to ensure the young Guardsman's swift and safe passage. He instructed d'Artagnan to go to a specific port—St. Valery—and there find a mean tavern without a name or sign, a mere fisherman's hut. Upon arriving, d'Artagnan was to ask for the host and repeat the word "Forward!" . This single word served as the key to unlock the entire relay network.

Operation and Use

The password functioned as a token of authentication, instantly identifying d'Artagnan as the duke's authorized messenger. At St. Valery, the host, upon hearing "Forward!," led d'Artagnan to a stable where a saddled horse awaited him, and provided the route to the next relay point: from St. Valery to Blangy, then to Neufchatel, where at the tavern of the Golden Harrow the same password would produce another fresh horse. At each relay, d'Artagnan found a horse ready and waiting, with the host instructed to ask for his Paris address so that the horses could be sent on to him later. The password was repeated at Eccuis and Pontoise, allowing d'Artagnan to cover nearly sixty leagues in little more than twelve hours, arriving at Treville's hotel at nine o'clock in the evening .

Significance

The "Forward!" password system exemplifies the extraordinary resources and organizational reach of the Duke of Buckingham, who could establish a covert relay network across hostile territory on short notice. It also underscores the high stakes of d'Artagnan's mission: the password was not merely a convenience but a necessity, as the cardinal's agents were actively seeking to intercept any messenger traveling between England and France. The system's success—d'Artagnan's safe and rapid journey—directly enabled the queen to appear at the ball wearing all twelve diamond studs, thwarting Cardinal Richelieu's plot to expose her relationship with Buckingham. The password thus becomes a symbol of the alliance between the French queen and the English duke, and of the loyalty and courage of the young Gascon who served as their courier.