Mordaunt

Also known as: Captain Mordaunt / M. Mordaunt / Milady's son / Monsieur Mordaunt / Mr. Mordaunt / the demon / the son of Milady / the young gentleman / the young man · Family: England · Role: secretary and envoy extraordinary · First appears: Chapter 37

In chapter 37, Mordaunt appears in Paris as Oliver Cromwell’s secretary and envoy, presenting credentials to Mazarin and carrying confidential letters. He explains that Charles I deprived him of his wealth and nobility after the assassination of his mother, and declares, “Yes, my lord, I hate him!” At Boulogne-sur-Mer, Mazarin orders him to await a reply and depart secretly.

By chapter 40, Mordaunt reveals that Milady was his mother and that Lord de Winter is his uncle, accusing him of murdering her and taking his inheritance. He vows to hold Lord de Winter and the other accomplices to account, while delaying his uncle’s death so he can discover them; he also kills the headsman of Bethune. At Boulogne, he identifies himself to Athos, Aramis, and Lord de Winter as “the son of Milady—I, the monk—I, the secretary and friend of Cromwell,” and threatens them with their next meeting in England.

In chapters 53–57, Mordaunt serves Mazarin and Oliver Cromwell while pursuing D’Artagnan, Porthos, Athos, and Aramis. He shoots Lord Winter through the heart, tells Oliver Cromwell that he killed him, and disowns him as family for being a traitor to England. After Oliver Cromwell gives him custody of the captured prisoners, their escape leaves him fainting on the steps. Mordaunt later helps bring Charles I to London, recognizes the four friends, and orders their arrest and death. In chapter 68, Oliver Cromwell authorizes him to take them and grants him time for personal matters, but D’Artagnan, Athos, Aramis, and Porthos capture him. He escapes during a duel with D’Artagnan, then boards the felucca with Groslow, conceals himself, sets a fuse to the powder, and destroys the vessel. In the sea, he attacks Athos and drags him beneath the water; Mordaunt’s corpse later rises with a poniard in its chest.