The Count of Monte Cristo

Villefort calls on Monte Cristo, who responds coldly to Villefort’s speech thanking him. Villefort draws Monte Cristo into conversation, and Monte Cristo tells him that he has made a study of human nature across the globe and is unimpressed by what he’s learned. Monte Cristo tells Villefort that as a prosecutor, he has been concerned only with the superficial trappings of justice and power. Monte Cristo announces that he himself is “one of those men who God has placed above kings and ministers by giving them a mission to fulfill, rather than a position to occupy” (211).

Monte Cristo describes himself as a “cosmopolite,” free from the constraints of geography, language, and social custom. His only adversaries are time, distance, and his own mortality. Monte Cristo says that Satan tempted him as he once tempted Christ, offering him whatever he wanted Monte Cristo asked to become “Providence” itself, “for the greatest, the most beautiful and the most sublime thing I know of in this world is to reward and punish” (213). Satan tells Monte Cristo that this is not possible, but that Monte Cristo can become an agent of Providence. Monte Cristo observes that he may lose his soul in the bargain, but he finds this an acceptable cost.

Villefort, alarmed and intrigued by Monte Cristo’s speech, provides his own example of divine justice, telling the story of how his father, the Bonapartist politician Noirtier, has been left completely paralyzed by a stroke, “a mute, frozen, corpse,” as punishment for some secret sin (214). Monte Cristo finds Villefort’s reference to secret sins ironic but conceals his reaction. After Villefort leaves, Monte Cristo tells Ali to have his carriage ready in half an hour and announces that in the meantime he will visit, Haydée.

Monte Cristo visits Haydée, a beautiful young woman living in a separate apartment within Monte Cristo’s house, furnished in “Middle-Eastern” style. Monte Cristo tells Haydée that she is free to leave him, as slavery is illegal in France, but she rejects the idea. Haydée says that the only men she has ever loved are her father, who is now dead, and Monte Cristo himself.

Monte Cristo urges Haydée to live however she wishes and to learn about the country she now finds herself in, as she has learned about the other societies in which she’s lived. Monte Cristo asks, however, that she keep her father’s identity secret. Monte Cristo makes it clear that he expects Haydée to leave him someday, but she insists that if Monte Cristo were to die, she would die, too.

After leaving Haydée, Monte Cristo goes to visit Maximilien at the home of his sister, Julie, and her family. Julie is married to Emmanuel Herbault, her father’s former employee, whom she earlier hoped to wed if the family’s business improved. Her father’s other former employees live in her house as cherished family servants. Julie is working in her rose garden when Monte Cristo arrives. Seeing her domestic happiness, Monte Cristo becomes emotional. Julie observes that they are all very happy now, but they previously suffered and paid a great price for their current happiness, before God sent “one of His angels” to aid them (218).

Monte Cristo finds the red silk purse he returned to the Morrels years before on display under a glass bell, with the note from “Sinbad the Sailor” and the diamond for Julie’s dowry still inside. Julie and Maximilien tell Monte Cristo they have never met their father’s savior, but that he was an Englishman employed by Thomson and French. Monte Cristo says the man must have been an acquaintance of his, Lord Wilmore, who made a habit of doing anonymous good deeds. Maximilien points out that his father insisted their real savior was not an Englishman, but “a benefactor who had come back from the tomb” (220). On his deathbed, M. Morrel told Maximilien that the family’s real savior was Edmond Dantès. Monte Cristo, overcome by emotion, leaves. Julie comments to her brother that Monte Cristo’s voice seemed oddly familiar to her.

Monte Cristo goes to the Villefort residence to return Villefort’s call, but he is out. Mme. Villefort greets Monte Cristo and introduces him to her 19-year-old stepdaughter Valentine, the child of Villefort’s first marriage. Seeing them together, Monte Cristo says that he has met them before, at a hotel in Perugia, Italy. Monte Cristo had just cured the illnesses of two members of the hotel’s staff, and everyone there believed him to be a doctor. He and Mme. Villefort had a long conversation, apparently about chemistry, drugs, and poisons.

Mme. Villefort sends Valentine to see if her grandfather, M. Noirtier, is ready for his dinner, then returns the conversation to chemistry. Monte Cristo says that he has made a study of poisons and followed the example of Mithradates, a legendary king who made himself immune to poisons by drinking a cup of them every day. He notes that poisoners also know how to kill a man slowly, inducing what appears to be a natural disease.

Mme. Villefort notes that Monte Cristo himself must be a great chemist, if he prepared the red liquid which revived her son. Monte Cristo responds that the same liquid, in larger doses, can be a deadly poison. He says the red liquid is an antispasmodic prepared by a friend. Mme. Villefort tells Monte Cristo that she is prone to fainting fits and would like to try the drug for herself. Monte Cristo promises to give her some and sends it to her house the next day.

Albert calls on Monte Cristo, accompanied by Lucien Debray. Monte Cristo guesses that Debray has been sent by Mme. Danglars to learn more about Monte Cristo. Albert discusses his upcoming marriage to Eugénie Danglars, noting he would rather not go through with it. His mother is also opposed to the marriage, as she dislikes the Danglars family. Albert says he would rather quarrel with his father than cause pain to his mother, a statement that draws a strong reaction from Monte Cristo.

The three then discuss how much money Danglars makes by playing the stock market. Debray states that Mme. Danglars really takes these gambles. Albert says that as her future son-in-law, he’d like to see her cured of the habit by a few large losses. He notes that this could easily be arranged by having someone like Debray, who has access to inside information, give her false information on which to base her speculations. Debray’s reaction to this idea alerts Monte Cristo to the fact that Mme. Villefort does actually depend on Debray for inside information to guide her investments.

After Debray leaves, Monte Cristo tells Albert that he is inviting the Danglars and Villeforts to dinner at his house in Auteuil. Monte Cristo means to invite Fernand but would prefer that Albert and Mercédès not be present. Albert, happy to avoid Danglars and Eugénie, says he will take his mother to the seaside before then. He invites Monte Cristo to visit him and his mother, but Monte Cristo declines because he has an important meeting with two Italian noblemen who are father and son.