After the success of "The Three Musketeers", Dumas wrote a scenario for a stage play.
The play "La Jeunesse des Mousquetaires"(The Young Musketeers) was staged in Paris at 17 Feburary 1849. Of course, it was based on "The three Musketeers", but we can find a lot of new things.Dumas, Alexandre, La Jeunesse des Mousquetaires / Les Mousquetaires,
Paris, La Table Ronde, 1994, ISBN2-7103-0641-7
The Prologue of the scenario told the episode when Athos and Milady were young.
Prologue, scene1-2
At a priesthouse of Vitray,
Charlotte (Milady) must leave from her priesthouse, because her brother, a priest of the village, leave out 6 month ago and a new priest arrive there. But Grimaud comes to Charlotte with a letter written by the viscount of la Fere (Athos). The viscount concerns that she continues living there, so she thanks and waits him who often passes through her house after his hunting.While Grimaud told her that the count of la Fere wanted to present the viscount to mademoiselle de la Lussaire. She was a beautiful orphan inherited a large fortune. But the viscount refuse his fater's present of this lady.
Prologue, scene3
Though Charlotte thanked the viscount for his concerns that she continued living her house, she refused it. She said that she should leave the village because of the future of the viscount, and she advised him to marry with Lussaie.
So the viscount told his mind since he met her...
She came the Vitray with her brother in 1620, 14 months ago. The vicount join the army of Louis XIII (Angers' war against the king's mother) with local lords of his area, and he met her when he returned home after 3 months later.
He had always seen her who was modestly and lonely behind her misanthropy brother.
The viscount was interested in her, so he tried to approach her. But Charlotte and her brother avoided him, so he loved the mysterious woman without talking each other.
The priest, her brother George, finally leaved out from the village 6 months ago. The viscount loved her better for her unhappiness. Charlotte also admitted to meet him.
And the viscount proposed to her...
He demanded her secret, her family and herself, because he need to open her mind. Charlotte told her story and said that she also love him. So the viscount proposed to her and suggested her his plan about it.
He wanted their marriage to be secret for avioding opposition of his father.
The new priest was a friend of the viscount, so they would like to promise their love in the church after an hour. He presented his mother's diamonds (and sapphire, or with sapphire, I don't read it) and parted with promise to meet again.
To be continured...
<©The Three Musketeers Club Japan / Report: No.19 Louis Isezaki>