The Three Musketeers Chapter Fifty-Three: Captivity: The Second Day Summary

  • Milady dreams that D’Artagnan is being executed.
  • In the morning, she stays in bed when Felton walks into the corridor outside her room. A serving woman walks in to attend to Milady, who looks pale and complains of a fever.
  • The woman asks if Milady wants a physician. Milady replies that it would be pointless.
  • Milady continues to complain, and Felton threatens to fetch Lord de Winter.
  • Felton brings a book containing a Catholic mass for Milady.
  • She detects that Felton is not a Catholic, and that this can be used to her advantage. She rapidly pretends to be a Puritan without actually telling Felton this fact straight out.
  • Lord de Winter later visits her and makes fun of her religious conversion.
  • Felton overhears the entire conversation. Later that evening, Milady prays aloud. An old servant of hers was a Puritan; Milady co-opts the prayers for her own ends. She pretends to be in a religious ecstasy as Felton orders the dinner table brought in. She finishes her prayers and eats only a little.
  • The table is cleared out and Milady notes with joy that Felton does not accompany them—clearly he is afraid of seeing her too often.
  • She begins to sing pure Puritan verses. Her voice is incredible and is heard throughout the castle.
  • It is clear Felton has been moved. He goes to visit her room and believes he sees an angel. Incoherently, he stammers out that she should not sing so loud next time.