The Return of Dogtanian

Some time has passed when we again meet the Muskehounds living a life of leisure. The years have not passed uneventfully—Dogranian has married Juliet and has two children.

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.