- Everyone keeps their promises. English and French navies sail together for Holland.
- Aramis assures the neutrality of Spain.
- D'Artagnan commands a small army that manages to take twelve fortresses within a month.
- Meanwhile, Madame de Montespan increases in the King's favors while La Valliere becomes increasingly marginalized.
- The King is happy to hear reports of D'Artagnan's success, and instructs Colbert to make D'Artagnan a marshal of France.
- Colbert sends a messenger with a very small, but heavy chest to D'Artagnan.
- D'Artagnan is in the middle of directing an attack on his thirteenth fortress when the messenger arrives.
- D'Artagnan reads the note and is quite pleased to hear he has been made a marshal.
- He turns towards the chest and is about to open it when a cannonball hits him in the chest.
- D'Artagnan's men hold out their arms as their commander falls.
- He utters his last words: "Athos – Porthos, farewell till we meet again! Aramis, adieu forever!"
- The narrator closes the novel by pointing out that three of the original four have passed away.