The Accusation

Aleksei has been accused of treason for warning Carlotta that the Musketeers are coming to arrest her; as the story begins, he is imprisoned in Le Labyrinthe, his hands in iron gauntlets to prevent Porte.

El Chacal Escapes

Aleksei, of course, is not entirely constrained by those things that contain Porté; rapidly, La Weasel is in the tunnels beneath Le Labyrinthe, dropping upon the Musketeers guarding El Chacal and releasing Carlotta. She is swiftly brought to the edge of the city to make her escape before Aleksei is back again in his polite tower.

Aleksei Released

Sebastian and Captain Duchard come to Aleksei the next morning; on account of his good name, Aleksei is to be released into Sebastian's company, and the two return to Aleksei's rooms.

There, the companions begin to scope out the situation, helped by Captain Duchard and Admiral Praisse, who is also implicated in this. Admiral Praisse tells Aleksei that he can do only so little - he's got egg on his face from the affair, and if he meddles much more it could cost him dearly.

The Tribunal

A special procurator - Paul Argossy, Comte du Argossy - has been sent down from Charouse to lead a tribunal of five. The other members are Captain Duchard, General Hubert Moncrieff (the husband of Lady Moncrieff), Jean Tourvelle, the Chief Intendant of Paix, and Viscomte Guillame Bisset du Durand, proxy-designate of the Marquis d'Paix.

Investigations

The heroes begin to look into the preferences of the various judges; quickly enough, it is clear that Argossy is sent from the Duc du Vere with an axe to grind against Aleksei. Some sweet-talking to Lady Moncrieff wins her husband's vote, and Sebastien convinces Duchard that Aleksei had nothing to do with helping Carlotta escape. Tourvelle - a friend of the companions - would like to make the neccessary third, but he confides that his position and family are being held hostage against the trial.

The heroes consequently begin an investigation of Argossy and the Marquis, which leads them rapidly enough to the slums.

The Procurator's Predilictions

In the slums, it becomes clear that Argossy is kidnapping women and that they are not returning: a pattern Sebastian confirms with research into the past places Argossy has been. Soon enough, the companions surmise that he must be using Porté to take them to some distant place for his villainy, since Julian investigates his rooms and finds no trace of the missing women as well as evidence that he spends little enough time in the rooms. Julian also sneaks a blooded object of Lucien's into Argossy's coat.

Zola - Aleksei's new courtesan friend - agrees to pose as a common street prostitute in hopes that Argossy will kidnap her. The plan is put in motion, but before then Argossy strikes at another girl. The companions decide to follow in hopes of saving her.

Chateau Argossy

Porté brings them to the Chateau Argossy, somewhere in northern Montaigne, where Argossy and a henchman are menacing the stolen prostitute. A knife from Zola knocks the blade from Argossy's hand, and soon enough the heroes overcome the henchman and square off with the procurator. He opens a Porté gate to effect an escape, but Julian throws him through the gate with Argossy's eyes still open.

Aftermath

With Argossy revealed as a villain, the case against Aleksei collapses, though the specter of that accusation still hangs around his head. This problem is past, but it is clear the heroes have the Duc du Vere's emnity.

Persons of Note

• Admiral Alazais Valois Praisse du Rachetisse -- High Admiral of the Montaigne Navy and a patron of the companions. He is entangled with Lady Gwynneth, not knowing she is Carlotta.
• Carlotta -- A beautiful Castillian spy and opera singer, she posed as Lady Gwynneth ferch Elise, an Avalon diplomat.
• Captain Luc Duchard -- Captain-lieutenant of Musketeers in Paix.
• Lucien du Lac -- A Porté master who works for Philip du Paix and is a friend of Julian.
• Lady Adelaide Moncrieff -- Doyenne of Le Labyrinthe, she is a formidable woman.