u/karakickass

The plot thickens even further in new and familiar ways!

Synopsis:

At the Count's new home, Bertuccio begins to act weird. The Count pushes him and eventually it is revealed that this home belonged to the Saint-Meran family (whose daughter was married to Villefort). Eventually, after more pressing, Bertuccio reveals that he once committed a murder here.

Bertuccio eventually tells his tale, it winds all the way back to the 100 days and the lawlessness that reigned. His older brother was killed and he went to Villefort to seek justice, but Villefort was indifferent, so Bertuccio swore a blood oath -- a vendetta -- against him.

In order to make good on this, he tracked Villefort, which eventually leads him to Auteuil. It is implied that Villefort is having an affair and the girl is pregnant. One night he sees someone he assumes is Villefort emerge with a baby and bury it. He stabs this person, killing them, then rescues the baby. He manages to revive it baby and then, after some diverging, his sister-in-law gets the child and she raises it as her own. The child -- Benedetto -- has red hair and is a little villain, and when he is grown, Bertuccio gets him a job on a ship.

Somehow this leads to Bertuccio hiding out and overhearing what happens after the Count (as Abbé Busoni) gives the diamond to Caderousse and La Carconte. He witnesses the negotiation and the 2 innkeepers feeling ripped off by the jeweller. The jeweller tries to leave, but a storm drives him back, and ominously is forced to stay in the inn with the people he has just made a deal with.

Final Line: "...La Carconte double-locked the door behind the jeweller.”

Discussion:

1. We see more of Villefort here, how has this illuminated his character and role in the novel?
2. We see another father/son relationship. Why do you think the child is such a rogue?
3. Caderousse is somehow back in the story and Bertuccio is there to witness! What is the relationship now between The Cad and La Carconte, who is the real villain between them?

Next week, chapters 45 and 46!

In which mostly polite things are said, and yet, so much might have been said.

Synopsis:

After Albert's other friends have left, he takes Monte Cristo to his attic where he stores all his treasures. There, MC continues to delight him with his worldliness and knowledge. MC also notes a portrait of a Catalan woman, looking quite in the fashion of her people, staring longingly out to sea. Albert tells that he loves the portrait of his mother, but it caused some strife between his father and her when she first had it commissioned.

Leaving with Albert, Monte Cristo arrives at the home of the proper Count de Morcerf. He notes the heraldry seems to be of the old kind, and not the new kind. [I confess I was a bit out of the loop on all the significance there.] This seems to imply that their family is truly connected by blood to an old family, which was mentioned before, and they are not some new money aristocrats -- which they most definitely must be, considering Fernand is also a Catalan!

MC is introduced to Morcerf and flatters him properly, then Mercédès comes in and she is strongly affected by seeing MC. Although words are said between them, not much other than thanking him for saving her son is said, then MC is off to his new home and with his shiny new sportscar horses.

Once he is gone, Mercédès is quite stricken. She questions Albert then admonishes him to "beware." But Albert dimisses thiis and she gives in.

Finally we see MC order around Bertuccio in a casual way, and spread the money around with the Notary. However, we get a hint that the house he bought is actually a key part of the grand plan.

Final Line: It was unexampled for a servant of the count’s to dare to dispute an order of his, so the steward, without saying a word, followed his master, who got into the carriage, and signed to him to follow, which he did, taking his place respectfully on the front seat.

Discussion:

1. Fernand appears to be misrepresenting his pedigree, not dissimilar to how MC is also misrepresenting his. What do you make of this development and the parallelism of this?
2. Put yourself in Mercédès' headspace. What do you think she was thinking?
3. MC seems to be "in character" most of the time. That whole scene with Bertuccio... real? Or just a way to build his reputation?

Next week, chapters 43 and 44!

I tells ya, it's the truth, it happened to a friend of a friend of mine...

Synopsis:

Albert has some of his friends over as he awaits the arrival of the Count of Monte Cristo. The friends delight in their privilege while Albert builds anticipation for the arrival of his new acquaintance.

The Count arrives perfectly on time. The men get to know each other. The Count, for his part, spends some time illuminating his character, with reference to his servants, foreignness, chemical prowess, wealth and international connections. In exchange, the Count learns that he is in the company of Maximilien Morrel, M. Morrel's son and that Albert also knows Baron Danglars.

Discussion:

1. Compare Albert to the other young men in this scene. Dumas spends a lot of time on their conversation and the setting, what do you think he has tried to show us?
2. The Count is making a big deal about his foreign origin and foreign connections. What purpose is this serving in his grand scheme?
3. The Count was surprised to see Maximilien Morrel and then dropped the name "Thomson and French" to bait a reaction. This must be unplanned. Why do you think he did this?
4. Do you find the yarn the Count is spinning to be believable? Should our young men be more skeptical of this mysterious stranger? And why aren't they?

Next week, chapters 41 and 42!

It might be a good idea to know this Count guy... I guess we can keep him around.

Synopsis:

Franz gets some bad news. Albert has been abducted! The mysterious woman was actually a bandit in disguise! They are demanding a ransom! And the amount is more than Franz can pay!

Thinking quickly, he goes to the Count and asks for help. While the Count could easily pay it, he instead chooses to confront Luigi Vampa. Together, Franz and MC travel to the catacombs of St. Sebastian and tell Vampa to release Albert. The whole scene has a relaxed air, with MC and Vampa conversing as respected equals. Albert is unharmed and they return to the hotel safely. The Count and Albert shake hands and MC can't help but let a shudder escape at his touch.

The next day, MC asks for the favour to be returned by Albert in the form of opening the doors of Parisian high society to him. They agree to meet in 3 months at a precise time. Franz shakes MC's hand and it is cold like a "corpse."

MC takes his leave and Franz expresses worry about their new acquaintance. He finally reveals all of the many things he has witnessed related to MC that might make him seem a shady character. Albert, however, dismisses these concerns and is even more committed to meeting the man again at the appointed time.

Discussion:

1. You have now encountered the famous Luigi Vampa. What is your impression of him?
2. Franz witnesses some interesting details about the Count in these chapters. How is your picture of him evolving?
3. What is your impression of the 2 young men as their Roman escapade concludes?
4. MC has managed to get an invite to Parisian society. How would you rate his plan? Lucky? Or ingenius?

Next week, chapters 39 and 40!

Just a light-hearted escapade, with mysteries and romance, leading to an abrupt and ominous ending.

Synopsis:

The young men finally get to have the fun they had been hoping for. Albert following a mysterious woman in a carriage, Franz meeting again with Countess G----. In the morning Franz witnesses the dramatic end of the carnival with the candles getting extinguished seemingly all at the same time. However, he does this alone, as Albert has gone off on a rendezvous with his mysterious paramour.

Final line(s): The Carnival was over.

Discussion Questions:

1. The tone shifted in this chapter, to one of joy and adventure, but the ending was quite abrupt. What did you feel reading it, and where do you think it's leading?
2. The Count seems to have plans on top of plans, where do you think he disappeared to? Do you think he had any fun at all?
3. The wearing of masks is both thematically interesting and useful for intrigue. What do you think about how the young men conducted themselves in their masks?

Next week, chapters 37 and 38!