THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 74-76

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 74-76

Villefort is relentless is he not? He will muscle through anything to see his plans through, even if it means guaranteeing the match of his daughter to Franz d'Epinay on the day of his own parents' funeral. Poor, poor Valentine, she is nothing more than a pawn in a game. Wonder where he gets that stubbornness from? Maybe his father?

Did we not all breathe an audible sigh of relief when Noirtier interrupts the gathering? A pause, a possibility of escape. Oh, how we hope!

The secret papers that d'Epinay reads aloud. The story of the death of his father at the hands of none other than Noirtier in a duel. The reference to the letter that came by Morcerf's ship years ago. The letter which Villefort destroyed that led to the destruction of Edmond Dantes and the emergence of the Count of Monte Cristo. Secrets are being revealed in the name of allowing an innocent girl to have a life of her choosing and the bringing down of a son who hid his father's identity for years to further his career.

We can't leave these chapters without acknowledging Dumas' slam on Parisian society. After all it "receives strangers and treats them, not as what they are, but as what they wish to be." The requirements - "speak the language...be acceptably turned out....be a good sport...and pay cash " (How many examples have we seen of that in this story?!)

Then we'll end on Danglars, another father with a plan for his daughter. Danglars is still riding the losing money train, but his daughter is his saving grace. Not as Albert's bride, mind you! Cavalcanti/Benedetto is the intended target. Danglars you are a fool! But that's not where his foolishness stops. It is time to sell out his friends. Hold on to your hats - Fernand's secrets are about to be revealed.