Forged Letter to de Wardes

The Forged Letter to de Wardes is a counterfeit billet-doux written by d'Artagnan in the guise of the Comte de Wardes to deceive and humiliate Milady de Winter. This forged letter serves as the instrument of d'Artagnan's calculated revenge against Milady for her contemptuous treatment of him, and it precipitates a dramatic confrontation that reveals her true, murderous nature and her secret past as a branded criminal.

Creation and Purpose

D'Artagnan, having discovered through the soubrette Kitty that Milady is in love with the Comte de Wardes and has written him passionate letters, decides to exploit this knowledge for a cruel vengeance. After intercepting Milady's third letter to de Wardes—in which she threatens to hate him if he does not respond—d'Artagnan resolves to impersonate his rival. He writes a forged reply in de Wardes's name, accepting Milady's invitation to a midnight rendezvous. The letter is a deliberate act of deception, crafted to make Milady believe she has finally secured the affections of the man she desires, while in reality it sets the stage for her utter humiliation at the hands of the man she despises.

Execution and Immediate Consequences

Kitty, who is by now completely devoted to d'Artagnan, delivers the forged letter to her mistress. Milady, overjoyed, prepares for the meeting, ordering her chamber to be darkened and instructing Kitty to admit the supposed count. D'Artagnan, concealed in Kitty's adjoining room, slips into Milady's chamber in the darkness, and she receives him as de Wardes. During their passionate encounter, Milady gives him a magnificent sapphire ring as a pledge of her love. The deception is complete, and d'Artagnan achieves his immediate goal of humiliating the woman who had scorned him.

Revelation and Catastrophe

The following morning, d'Artagnan, still in Milady's bed, reveals his true identity. He confesses that he, not de Wardes, has been with her, and that he has known all along of her love for the count. The revelation triggers a violent and terrifying transformation in Milady. She flies into a murderous rage, seizing a dagger and attempting to stab d'Artagnan. In the ensuing struggle, her nightdress is torn, and d'Artagnan sees the fleur-de-lis branded on her shoulder—the mark of a convicted criminal. This discovery, more than the humiliation of the deception, seals Milady's undying hatred for d'Artagnan and sets the stage for the relentless, murderous campaign she will wage against him and his friends for the remainder of the novel.