The Man in the Iron Mask Chapter Fifty-Five: Porthos's Will Summary

  • Pierrefonds (Porthos's estate) has been prepared for his funeral.
  • Mousqueton, (Porthos's servant who goes by both "Mousqueton" and "Mouston"), has lost plenty of weight in two days; his clothes hang on his frame.
  • Various friends arrive to hear the reading of the will.
  • D'Artagnan arrives right as the reading is about to begin. He hugs Mousqueton and nods to the guests.
  • Porthos's will first details all of his worldly possessions, then leaves everything to Raoul de Bragelonne, who he considers his son.
  • A tear slides down D'Artagnan's nose.
  • Porthos includes a few stipulations to this bequest, however. He wants D'Artagnan to have whatever D'Artagnan might request, that Aramis receive a pension should he require one, and that Mousqueton receive all forty-seven of his suits of clothing, to be worn in Porthos's memory. Porthos also wills Mousqueton to Raoul, asking that he look out for the servant's happiness.
  • Mousqueton sobs with grief and tries to leave the hall.
  • D'Artagnan offers to take him to Athos's house.
  • The reading of the will is finished and the guests leave. D'Artagnan is left alone to contemplate his friend's last will and testament, which he judges to be admirable.
  • D'Artagnan hears a groan come from an upstairs room, and he is reminded that Mousqueton must be consoled. He goes upstairs to find, in Porthos's room, all his suits of clothes in a giant heap, and Mousqueton on top, kissing the suits.
  • D'Artagnan moves forward into the room and realizes that Mousqueton is dead.