Chapter 35: On the Canal — Summary & Analysis
Spoiler notice: This page reveals the full plot and character moments from Chapter 35. If you haven’t read it yet, you may want to pause here.
Summary
The chapter opens on a grand canal, where a royal barge drifts along green waters bordered by aged marble. Aboard sits Princess Henrietta Stuart, sister of Charles II, surrounded by musicians, singers, and courtiers glittering with jewels. She occupies the place of honor on a dais, though her earlier years were spent in impoverished exile in the Louvre alongside her mother. Now restored to prominence, Henrietta is a celebrated beauty whose pride has returned along with prosperity.
Two courtiers—George Villiers, the second Duke of Buckingham (son of the famous Buckingham from the earlier Musketeers history), and Lord Wilmot, Earl of Rochester—vie for her smile. Despite the lavish entertainment, the princess soon grows restless, declaring herself bored and ordering the barge to the bank. Her capricious dismissal of their efforts wounds Buckingham, who is genuinely in love, while Rochester masks his reaction with cynical amusement.
Once ashore, Henrietta’s attention is caught by the distant figures of her elderly loyal servant Parry and an unknown companion. Buckingham dismisses Parry as insignificant, but the princess sharply defends him, reminding the courtiers of the old man’s lifelong service to her family. A flutter of feminine contradiction follows: she challenges the noblemen’s lack of respect for her brother’s servants and makes a pointed show of sympathy toward Parry.
When the group meets, Parry introduces the stranger as the Chevalier d’Artagnan, sent by King Charles II to be presented to his sister. Buckingham, whose curt tone reveals an initial disdain, learns that this Frenchman was involved in a secret intrigue with his father—the affair of the diamond studs. D’Artagnan calmly explains that he had once sent a warning to the first Duke of Buckingham that arrived too late to save him. This revelation instantly transforms the young duke’s attitude: he eagerly seeks to extract the full story, but d’Artagnan politely refuses, promising to share it only if Buckingham ever comes to France, a journey d’Artagnan mysteriously predicts will happen.
Parry adds weight to the introduction by telling the princess that Charles II owes the recovery of his realm as much to d’Artagnan as to anyone. Henrietta, impressed and curious, gracefully offers d’Artagnan her hand to kiss. Buckingham, burning for similar favor, asks what he must do to earn it. The princess replies with a teasing smile: “Ask Monsieur d’Artagnan, he can tell you.”
Key Events
- A lavish barge excursion finds Henrietta Stuart bored despite the entertainment.
- Buckingham and Rochester fail to charm the princess, revealing her capricious nature.
- Henrietta spots Parry and d’Artagnan on the bank and orders the barge to land.
- D’Artagnan introduces himself as the Chevalier d’Artagnan, sent by Charles II.
- Buckingham initially treats him coldly, then warms dramatically upon learning of d’Artagnan’s role in the diamond studs affair with his father.
- D’Artagnan declines to recount the affair but predicts Buckingham will visit France.
- Parry announces that the king owes the restoration of his crown in part to d’Artagnan.
- Henrietta receives d’Artagnan gracefully, and he kisses her hand.
- The princess teases Buckingham by directing his question about favor to d’Artagnan.
Character Development
Princess Henrietta Stuart: The chapter paints her as a young woman who has emerged from hardship into sudden luxury. Her beauty is matched by a regal coquetry: she toys with suitors, shifting from indifference to pointed rebukes. Her defense of the faithful Parry shows a capacity for loyalty, but she wields her power over Buckingham with calculated caprice. She remains an unreadable figure—still a “Daughter of France” who has never yet loved.
George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham: The son of the legendary duke is a melancholy romantic, easily wounded by Henrietta’s fickleness. His transition from haughty dismissal to eager fascination when d’Artagnan mentions the diamond studs reveals a deep hunger to connect with his father’s secret past. That hunger overrides his pride, making him vulnerable.
Lord Rochester: A sharp observer who masks genuine emotion with wit. He alone seems to laugh at the absurdity of the court game, but his pride is equally pricked when Henrietta snubs him. Rochester’s detached manner allows him to navigate the princess’s moods more nimbly than Buckingham, though he, too, is ultimately at her mercy.
D’Artagnan: Older, measured, and self-assured, here d’Artagnan wields his reputation like a blade. He refuses to be belittled by Buckingham’s initial coldness, responds with controlled dignity, and deftly turns the encounter to his advantage. His cryptic prediction that Buckingham will come to France hints at his instinct for future intrigue. His easy charm with the princess and his taut discretion mark him as a man of immense experience and quiet power.
Parry: The elderly servant embodies unwavering loyalty. His brief appearance reinforces the theme of service rewarded and the place old retainers hold in a restored royal household.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
The Weight of the Past: The diamond studs affair, a core event from the earlier Musketeers saga, resurfaces as a touchstone. For Buckingham, it is a buried family secret he desperately wishes to unearth. For d’Artagnan, it is a currency of honor that instantly reshapes the present. The past is not over; it flows beneath the canal’s surface, ready to be drawn up.
Coquetry and Power: Henrietta’s capriciousness illustrates how an intelligent woman confined to a ceremonial role can weaponize boredom and indifference. Her smiles and rebuffs are the only weapons she fully controls, and she uses them with surgical precision.
Boredom Amidst Splendor: The gorgeously described barge—musicians, velvet cushions, golden fringe—ultimately cannot hold the princess’s interest. This motif suggests that restored royalty, for all its glitter, is hollow without genuine connection or purpose. The courtiers exhaust themselves offering distractions, but Henrietta craves something more substantial, which d’Artagnan’s arrival momentarily supplies.
Loyalty Across Borders: D’Artagnan’s introduction as a Frenchman in an English court, Parry’s long service, Henrietta’s dual French-English heritage, and the promise of future meetings in Paris all emphasize the cross-channel ties that underpin the novel. Loyalty is not national; it is personal.
Why This Chapter Matters
This scene is a pivot point that welds the new English setting to the deep Musketeers mythology. By bringing d’Artagnan face-to-face with the son of his old ally-rival, Ellsworth invokes the legacy of the diamond studs, re-establishing d’Artagnan’s aura of mystery and competence for a new generation. Equally important, the chapter fleshes out Princess Henrietta as more than a stock royal—her sharp mind and willful personality promise future complications. The interplay between boredom and power, the allure of untold secrets, and the prediction of a French journey for Buckingham all seed future plotlines. It’s a masterclass in using social grace, repressed emotion, and buried history to tighten the story’s tension without a single sword drawn.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Buckingham’s attitude toward d’Artagnan change so dramatically?
Buckingham begins by dismissing d’Artagnan as an obscure Frenchman, but the instant he learns that d’Artagnan was involved in the diamond studs affair—a secret linked to his dead father—curiosity overwhelms pride. The young duke is hungry for any knowledge that connects him to his father’s storied past, and d’Artagnan’s guarded hints only inflame that desire. -
How does Princess Henrietta’s behavior on the canal reflect the theme of capricious power?
Henrietta wields her royal status like a weather system. She switches rapidly from languid boredom to sharp reprimand, from defending obscure loyalty (Parry) to provoking jealousy among her suitors. Because her standing is absolute, she can afford to contradict herself and withdraw favor at will, demonstrating that in a restored court, personal whim often outweighs consistency. -
What does the diamond studs affair represent for the characters in this chapter?
For d’Artagnan, it represents a bankable reputation—a piece of living history that instantly earns him respect. For Buckingham, it is a family mystery and a source of pain and fascination. For the princess and Rochester, who overhear references, it adds a romantic, conspiratorial sheen to the stranger in their midst. The affair links present politeness to past high-stakes intrigue, reminding everyone that beneath the idle canal cruise, they inhabit a world built on old loyalties and betrayals.