El viaje de d'Artacán

The story opens in the small village of Béarn in Gascony, where young Dogtanian and his rival François are duelling with wooden swords. Dogtanian’s victory is observed by a visitor, a Musketeer from Paris who has come to visit ‘the noblest man in the village’. François is convinced that this means his father, the Mayor, but in fact the messenger goes to Dogtanian’s house. It is revealed that Dogtanian’s father is an old friend of Monsieur Treville, the Captain of the King’s Musketeers. François’ parents think Dogtanian is a bad influence and complain to Dogtanian’s mother about the injuries their son has received. In a note, François challenges Dogtanian to a duel at noon. His parents find the note and his father sets out to stop them. François has set various traps and has a small army of boys ready to beat Dogtanian up, but Dogtanian outwits them by putting a dummy in a suit of armour. François and his friends are routed, but Dogtanian’s father then appears and makes his son fight hi