two
o'clock
A few minutes later D'Artagnan annoyed Aramis , the third musketeer , who was chatting with some gentleman of the king 's musketeers . As D'Artagnan came up Aramis accidentally dropped an embroidered pocket-handkerchief and covered it at once with his foot to prevent observation . D'Artagnan , conscious of a certain want of politeness in his treatment of Athos and Porthos , and determined to be more obliging in future , stooped and picked up the handkerchief -- much to the vexation of Aramis , who denied all claim to the delicate piece of cambric . D'Artagnan not taking the rebukes of Aramis in good part , they fixed two o'clock as the hour of meeting . The two young men bowed and separated , Aramis going up the street which led to the Luxembourg , whilst D'Artagnan , finding that it was near noon , took the road to the Carmes-Deschaux , saying to himself , `` Decidedly I ca n't draw back ; but at least if I am killed , I shall be killed by a musketeer . '' Knowing nobody in Paris , D'Artagnan went to his appointment without a second . It was just striking twelve when he arrived on the ground , and Athos , still suffering from his old wound on the shoulder , was already waiting for his adversary .