It takes place in "Saint-Cyr" the prestigious military school (the French "West Point");the heroes are three cadets :the major (the young man who comes first in his year ),the "system" (the one who comes last) and a frail boy ,from a wealthy family ;of course the "major" comes from a poor background ,with a meritorious mom who bled herself dry to secure her boy's future.The three cadets are "the three musketeers" or ,to be precise,the three "Bengal lancers ",for they are sent to Syria ,an exotic destination.