Chapter 21 Summary

At Buckingham's residence, d'Artagnan sees there is a life-sized portrait of Anne of Austria, and an altar holding the monogrammed box she has given him. Buckingham opens the casket to kiss each diamond and discovers that two are missing. He tells d'Artagnan he is sure it was the Countess de Winter who has stolen them, as he felt her touch at a recent ball. Without hesitation, he uses the power and wealth of his position to immediately have the English ports closed so the two missing diamonds cannot make their way to France, and calls for his jeweler to make copies to replace them. In two days, this is finished, and d'Artagnan prepares to return to France with the aid of Buckingham's special permission to leave port. Buckingham also promises to give him the gift of the four horses that will relay him...