Calais

Calais, the principal French port on the English Channel, serves as the decisive gateway in d'Artagnan's perilous journey to England. It is the point where the young Gascon, having lost his companions to ambushes and duels along the road, must overcome a final, violent obstacle to fulfill his mission for the queen. The city's harbor, its governor's authority, and the surrounding countryside become the stage for a desperate race against the cardinal's agents, making Calais the linchpin of the entire English expedition.

The Gateway to England

After the ambush at Amiens, where Athos was captured, d'Artagnan and his lackey Planchet push their exhausted horses to the limit, arriving within a hundred paces of Calais. Their mounts collapse from fatigue, the blood flowing from their eyes and noses, forcing the pair to abandon them and run toward the quay on foot. At the harbor, they find a gentleman, the Comte de Wardes, who has just arrived and is also seeking immediate passage to England. The captain of a vessel ready to set sail informs them that an order from the cardinal has been issued, forbidding anyone from leaving without express permission. De Wardes produces the required authorization, leaving d'Artagnan, who has no such document, in a desperate position.

The Duel in the Wood

D'Artagnan follows de Wardes as he rides toward the governor's country house, a quarter of a league from the city, to have his pass examined. In a small wood outside the city walls, d'Artagnan overtakes the gentleman and demands the order. A fierce duel ensues. D'Artagnan wounds de Wardes three times, crying out at each thrust, "One for Athos, one for Porthos; and one for Aramis!" De Wardes, though grievously wounded, manages to stab d'Artagnan in the breast before being felled by a fourth, fatal thrust. D'Artagnan searches the unconscious man and takes the order for passage, which is in the name of the Comte de Wardes. He and Planchet then bind and gag de Wardes's servant, Lubin, leaving them both in the wood.

The Governor's Deception

D'Artagnan presents himself at the governor's house as the Comte de Wardes. The governor, examining the cardinal's order, remarks that it seems his Eminence is anxious to prevent a certain d'Artagnan, a Bearnese gentleman, from crossing to England. D'Artagnan, playing his role, offers a detailed description of the Comte de Wardes, claiming it is the description of the wanted man. The governor, fully deceived, countersigns the passport and delivers it to d'Artagnan, who thanks him and departs. By making a long detour to avoid the wood where the real de Wardes lies, d'Artagnan and Planchet re-enter Calais by another gate.

The Final Departure

D'Artagnan reaches the wharf to find the vessel still ready to sail. He presents his countersigned pass to the captain, pays for both himself and Planchet, and they board immediately. It is a narrow escape; they have scarcely sailed half a league when d'Artagnan sees a flash and hears the detonation of the cannon announcing the closing of the port. The city of Calais, with its governor's complicity and its harbor now sealed, has been both the obstacle and the means of his deliverance, marking the end of the French leg of his journey and the beginning of his mission in England.