The Son of the Three MusketeersOn a beautiful August afternoon in 1680, a large crowd gathered in front of Maître Planchet's grocery store, "Au Pilon d'Or," on Rue des Lombards in Paris. A sign advertised a "Grande Exposition de Blanc," drawing in eager female shoppers looking for linen. However, they found no cloth inside. Planchet humorously revealed that he was not selling linen, but rather "blanc d'Espagne" (Spanish white powder). Though initially bewildered, the customers were won over by Planchet's good humor and made their purchases. They praised his commercial skills and his convenient night bell, which allowed customers to be served at any hour. The successful sale continued until evening, after which the shop closed and Planchet retired to the back room. In the back room, Planchet conversed with his loyal cook, Dame Jeanne, about Blanche-Mignonne, a fragile eighteen-year-old orphan left in Planchet's care by an unknown dying woman. Planchet revealed that the following day, on Blanche-Mignonne's eighteenth birthday, he must fulfill the mother's dying wish by reading her a manuscript detailing her tragic life. The mother's final wish was for her daughter to avenge her memory. Because Blanche-Mignonne was so delicate, Planchet and Dame Jeanne lamented that she would need a brave gentleman to help her, wishing for someone like the legendary Three Musketeers—d'Artagnan, Athos, and Porthos—whose portraits hung on the wall. Planchet, the sole survivor of their adventures, shed a tear remembering his former masters, who had all passed away. Planchet then shared a secret with Dame Jeanne about a potential descendant called the "Fils des Trois Musketeers. " Twenty-one years earlier, a beautiful widow from Béarn fell in love with all three musketeers simultaneously. Months later, each musketeer received a letter announcing the birth of a son. Amused, they decided to collectively name the boy the Son of the Three Musketeers, instructing the mother to send him to Paris when he turned twenty. They entrusted their testament to Planchet, directing the young man to claim it at the grocery store. Planchet confessed he had spent the previous year waiting in vain for the young man's arrival, though Dame Jeanne encouraged him to hold onto hope. The conversation was interrupted by the grocery staff, which included four young apprentices and two clerks. The first clerk was Abdon, a foolish man who had previously inherited money, bought the shop from Planchet, and completely ruined it in weeks by giving away absurdly expensive prizes—like silver candlesticks or legs of mutton—to customers who bought cheap spices. Planchet had to return from his retirement in Fontainebleau to rescue the business, keeping Abdon on out of charity. The second clerk was Baptistin, a storyteller from Marseille. Planchet had the apprentices recite his custom-written grocery catechism before dinner. As the clock struck half past seven, Planchet became deeply anxious about Blanche-Mignonne's failure to return from church. When a violent thunderstorm erupted, Planchet grabbed his cloak and rushed out into the torrential rain to find her.