Chapter 28: Contraband Merchandise
Spoiler Notice: This summary reveals plot details from Chapter 28 of Between Two Kings. If you haven’t read it yet, you may wish to do so first.
Summary
Two nights after earlier events, a small Dutch dogger drops anchor off Scheveningen in the darkest hour. A longboat glides silently to the deserted shore, carrying a large, carefully handled oblong crate—contraband smuggled past a sleeping watchman. The man who leaped out first, giving orders in a voice of command, darts inland toward the wood that hides the humble refuge of the exiled Charles II.
At the house, a mastiff’s barking rouses the old guardian Parry. After a tense exchange through the locked door, Parry recognises the voice of the Chevalier d’Artagnan, who insists on seeing the king at once. Ushered in, d’Artagnan—disguised as a fisherman—wakes Charles, who has been struggling over a letter. D’Artagnan recounts that, having heard the king complain at Blois that only an army or a fortune could remove the obstacle of General Monck, he has taken it upon himself to act. He calmly announces he has captured Monck from his camp in England, bundled him into a ventilated box, and brought him to this very shore. Charles’s incredulity dissolves when d’Artagnan opens a window and whistles three times into the night, signalling his men to bring the contraband general forward.
Key Events
- Night landing: A mysterious oblong crate is smuggled ashore from a dogger as the tide rises at Scheveningen.
- Stealthy approach: The leader runs alone to the exiled king’s cottage, ignoring the barking dog, and overcomes Parry’s caution by revealing his name.
- D’Artagnan gains entry: Parry joyfully recognises his old acquaintance and—after d’Artagnan swears his news warrants waking the king—leads him to Charles’s chamber.
- The revelation: D’Artagnan, still in fisherman’s garb, informs Charles that he has personally abducted General Monck from Newcastle and transported him across the sea in a box with air holes.
- Summoning the prize: D’Artagnan opens a window and whistles three times, a prearranged signal to bring Monck to the king.
Character Development
- D’Artagnan: Demonstrates audacious initiative and unwavering confidence. He acts not on Louis XIV’s behalf but out of personal devotion to a king in need, reminding us that his loyalty transcends mere orders. His blunt yet charming conversation shows he can speak to monarchs as equals.
- Parry: The faithful servant’s caution and joy upon recognising d’Artagnan underscore his steadfast guardianship of the exiled Charles. He embodies the threadbare but dogged loyalty of the king’s diminished court.
- King Charles II: A ruler reduced to drafting difficult letters by lamplight in a rear pavilion. His shock, scepticism, and ultimate wonderment highlight both his desperation and the transformative nature of the news he receives.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Contraband: The title and the oblong crate reframe Monck’s abduction as smuggled goods, ironically reducing a feared general to merchandise.
- Audacity and Fortune: D’Artagnan’s operation makes the impossible tangible; he succeeds without an army or a million livres, turning the wheel of fate through sheer nerve.
- Guarded thresholds: The dog, the locked door, Parry’s questioning, and Charles’s working chamber all create a barrier that d’Artagnan crosses, mirroring the larger obstacle Monck represents.
- Light and darkness: The night-time landing, the lantern in Parry’s hand, and the bright lamplight in the king’s room symbolise revelation—the clandestine deed brought into the open.
Why This Chapter Matters
“Contraband Merchandise” delivers the payoff to d’Artagnan’s seemingly reckless plan. By bringing Monck literally to Charles’s doorstep, he removes the principal obstacle to the king’s restoration and sets the stage for a direct confrontation that will reshape the political landscape. The chapter also cements d’Artagnan’s role as a free agent whose daring bridges the gap between two thrones.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does d’Artagnan approach the king in the dead of night and in disguise?
He needs absolute secrecy—Monck’s capture is a provocation that could ignite a diplomatic crisis. The darkness and his fisherman’s outfit shield the operation from prying eyes and allow him to reach Charles without alerting Dutch authorities or spies. -
How does d’Artagnan’s conversation with Charles reflect his character and his view of kingship?
D’Artagnan speaks with respectful bluntness, reminding Charles that kings listen to him only when they are in trouble. His candour reveals a man who values action over ceremony and measures his loyalty by deeds, not deference. -
What is the symbolic significance of transporting Monck in a “big box pierced with holes”?
The box strips Monck of his military power, transforming him into literal cargo—contraband—that d’Artagnan can deliver at will. It dramatises the reversal of fortune: the general who blocked a throne now arrives as a piece of merchandise, utterly dependent on the captor he once opposed.