DC Special #23 (1976)

During a bar fight, the musketeer known as Porthos makes a wager with Dulac that he will go pull the beard of the King of Spain. They wager 1,000 gold Florins and set out on their journey. Porthos is joined by his fellow musketeers who wish to share his fate. On their way to Spain they run into Dartagnan who has apparently lost his blade. The musketeers inform him that he can acquire a new blade from the master sword makers of Toledo. Word of their journey soon reaches the monarchs King Louis the 13th of France and Philip the Fourth of Spain. Cardinal Richelieu also learns of the bet and is amused that the musketeers will soon find themselves imprisoned for life in Spain. In the meantime the Duc De Corbeau meets with five traitors to plan the assassination of King Louis. Corbeau would then assume the throne with the blessing of Cardinal Richleau who oversees that signing of their agreement. Their newly signed document is then accidentally dispatched to the Spanish ambassador Count Valois by Corbeaus's servant. Corbeau is horrified that his plot might now be discovered and he murders his servant for making such a grave mistake. In the meantime Ambassador Valois intercepts the document and dispatches it with a messenger before Corbeau and his men arrive. Corbeau demands that Valois hand over the document but Valois announces that it is no longer in his possession. Corbeau murders the ambassador and proceeds to search for the incriminating document. In the meantime the musketeers cross the border into Spain on their mission to fulfill their bet. They arrive in the fabled city of Toledo to visit the workshop of Pedro de Diego. He provides Dartagnan with an excellent sword when they are suddenly attacked by Dulac and his men. During the fight, Dartagnan can sense that his new sword is off balance but he proceeds to use it for his defense. The Musketeers make their way to the royal castle where they attempt to enter in disguise but they are quickly found out and they make a hasty retreat. They then attempt to access the Spanish king once more by having Porthos impersonate Sancho, the famous Barber of Seville. The Spanish king readily sits for a hair trim which gives Porthos the opportunity to cut off the tip of his beard. The Musketeers then fight their way out of the castle and make their way towards France to collect on their bet. On their way back, the Musketeers are attacked by Corbeau and his men. They discover that Pedro Diego had placed a small scroll inside Dartagnan's sword and that is why if felt off balance. The scroll is the document that was signed by all the traitors in their assassination plot and it contains the names of all the assassins including Corbeau. The scroll is quickly recovered by the Musketeers and delivered to King Louis himself. He announces that Corbeau and his assassins will hang. Unfortunately the scroll does not contain the name of Cardinal Richleau and he escapes all punishment In the meantime the Musketeers collect on their bet from Dulac and proceed to drink in merriment.