The Return of Dogtanian

The Muskehounds, having arrived in Paris, head to the Palace to appear before a general meeting of the Muskehounds. Our friends notice that the King has changed—despite looking the same as ever. He says and does odd things and does not immediately recognise our friends.

Dogtanian’s family arrives in Paris where they are met by the Muskehound, Pip and Planchet. They go out into the street where they find one of the Cardinal’s guards fixing a notice announcing that the Muskehounds have been relieved of their duties as the King’s personal guards and replaced by the Cardinal’s guard.

The Muskehounds enter the King’s private office for their audience, but the King does not seem to take much notice of their request and our friends leave with their hopes dashed.

Pom arrives in Paris on a vegetable cart and runs to Dogtanian's house to tell him about his meeting with the imprisoned King. At first, Dogtanian cannot believe him, as he has only recently seen the King in person.

Dogtanian, the Three Muskehounds, Pom and the King spend the night in the forest and then prepare to continue their journey to Paris. The King decides to disguise himself as a Muskehound, so that no one will recognise him, and to avoid a possible second kidnap attempt.

Dogtanian takes Rofty to see an old magician called Exili, who lives in a cave in the forest, as he has been told that Exili might be able to help. Milady sees Dogtanian on the way to the Magician’s cave and alerts Richelieu, who is getting increasingly puzzled by the reappearance of the Muskehounds, and wants at all costs to find out what they are up to.

The King has fallen ill, and the doctors cannot diagnose what he is suffering from. His condition appears serious. A maid tells the Queen that she has seen someone suspicious in the royal kitchens. The Queen, fearing that someone may have poisoned her husband, sends for the Muskehounds.

The King is expecting a visit from the Count of Bavaria with whom he hopes to establish friendly relations which could be of great benefit to France. But, concerned about the possible machination Blanbec and his followers, he asks Dogtanian and the Muskehounds to keep an eye open in case his half-brother tries something else.

Dogtanian, knowing that they have been spied on, talks to De Treville and then to the King about changing their plans. They decide that Richelieu's guards should provide the escort for the Count of Bavaria, so that the Muskehounds can keep an eye on things, as Blanbec believes that they will be the escort.

Blancbec, dressed as King, receives the Count of Bavaria at the frontier. The Count is touched and highly flattered to see that the King himself has come to the frontier to meet him but Blanbec immediately starts to treat him haughtily and rudely, as his plan is to offend the Count and ruin the chances of an alliance.