Hotel de la Tremouille

The Hotel de la Tremouille, the Paris residence of the Duc de la Tremouille, is a noble house that becomes a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict between the King's Musketeers and the Cardinal's Guards. Its significance in the narrative lies not in its architecture or daily life, but in the violent events that transpire there, which nearly lead to its destruction and force a direct confrontation between the cardinal and the Musketeers' captain, Monsieur de Treville.

The Ambush and the Siege

The trouble begins when Bernajoux, a Guardsman wounded by d'Artagnan in a duel, is carried into the Hotel de la Tremouille, where he has a relative. Two of Bernajoux's friends, seeing him go out after exchanging words with d'Artagnan, rush from a tennis court and attack the young Guardsman. Athos, Porthos, and Aramis quickly come to d'Artagnan's defense, driving the two Guardsmen back. As Bernajoux falls, the outnumbered Guardsmen cry out, "To the rescue! The Hotel de la Tremouille!" This summons brings all those in the hotel rushing out to attack the four companions. The Musketeers, in turn, cry out, "To the rescue, Musketeers!" This cry is generally heeded, as the Musketeers are known enemies of the cardinal and are beloved for their hatred of him. Soldiers from other companies, including three Guardsmen from the company of M. Dessessart, join the fray. The melee becomes general, with strength on the side of the Musketeers. The Cardinal's Guards and M. de la Tremouille's people are forced to retreat into the hotel, closing the doors just in time to prevent their enemies from entering with them.

The Threat of Fire

The excitement among the Musketeers and their allies reaches its peak. They begin to deliberate whether they should set fire to the hotel to punish the insolence of M. de la Tremouille's domestics for daring to make a sortie upon the king's Musketeers. This proposition is received with enthusiasm. The plan is only abandoned when eleven o'clock strikes, reminding d'Artagnan and his companions of their audience with the king. They succeed in calming their friends, who content themselves with hurling paving stones against the hotel's strong gates before tiring of the sport. The leaders of the enterprise then quit the group and make their way toward the hotel of M. de Treville.

Aftermath and Resolution

The attack on the Hotel de la Tremouille leads to a formal complaint from the duke. M. de Treville, informed of the fresh disturbance, sends a letter to M. de la Tremouille, begging him to eject the cardinal's Guardsmen from his house and to reprimand his people for their audacity. The duke, already prejudiced by his esquire (a relative of Bernajoux), replies that it is he who should complain, as his people were assaulted and his hotel nearly burned. To resolve the dispute, M. de Treville visits the duke in person. They agree to interrogate the wounded Bernajoux, who, placed between life and death, tells the truth exactly as it happened. This testimony clears the Musketeers and vindicates M. de Treville, who then reports the outcome to the king, leading to the eventual release of Athos and the king's favor toward the four friends.