THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 68-70 While these 3 chapters didn't quite contain the roller coaster events that the past few chapters have (have you not felt the floor drop out from under you?), there are still some notable events happening that are resulting in some strong emotions. First, Albert and Mercedes Morcerf have returned. There is a ball in the plans, and Mercedes has requested that the count attend. I am holding my breath about this meeting. Will the count set aside his mask and allow Edmond to begin to peek out? Villefort makes good on his word. He is attempting to dig up the count's past. Monsieur l'Abbe and Lord Wilmore, a friend and a foe of the count's, are interviewed. But who are the abbe and Wilmore? None other than our count in costume. My goodness he is a busy man! Then we come to the ball. Everyone is asking about the count. I love Dumas' description when the count enters. There are men in attendance who are more "handsome," but none that are more "significant." He has certainly set himself up as the pin in the hinge that all society revolves around! We have a couple of revelations. 1- Danglars has lost more money, and 2- Mercedes asks the count to accompany her to the garden. His reaction is priceless. He may be in control of lots of things, but he has failed to gain control of his emotions where Mercedes is concerned.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 71-73 Had to use our family's current puzzle as a backdrop to our reading this week. We are being handed pieces left and right, and little by little they are beginning to form a picture. Our chapters open this time with a private garden walk taken by the count and Mercedes. I was holding my breath through this entire scene. The palpable feelings of passion, regret, hurt, longing, need for forgiveness, to still be valued swirl around them as they walk. And the refusal of the count to eat - did you catch the Arab custom? But as the count quickly reminds Mercedes they are in France not Arabia? So we are left wondering if they are friends or not. First the count affirms that they are, but later he tells her he could not pretend to be her friend, but her most respectful servant. And so we wait. I have to admit I am feeling the moral struggle right now of Mercedes being married to someone else and the desire for love to be restored that was lost by evil deeds. From there we plunge head first into another love story, the love story of Valentine and Morrel. The arrival of a very disheveled woman, Valentine's grandmother - Monsieur de Saint-Meran is dead. Do you not feel swept up in the madness of this scene? I somewhat feel, myself, like the raving, wild haired woman as I wrestle alongside Valentine with her desire to honor her father and her grandmother. But to do so means to shackle herself to someone she doesn't love, that she doesn't know, all in the name of...well...a name! But she makes a promise to Morrel. She prepares to run away with him but then fails to show. We learn that Madame de Saint-Meran is dead. The wedding is postponed. Then, we are privy to a conversation between the doctor and Villefort. Poisoned?! And it's to be buried away, not brought to light! Who would want to poison Madame de Saint-Meran? I find myself asking was Monsieur de Saint-Meran poisoned as well? In the midst of all this Valentine and Morrel secure a protector. Someone who is on their side who will see that they are together in the end. Noirtier, Villefort's crippled, unspeaking father, has become their ally. Don't let his body fool you. He is still a very powerful man biding his time in the wings.

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.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 77-79 Albert is being handed the pieces of the past - Haydee's story and his father's. It is time to assemble the complete picture of what happened to her family so long ago and at the direction of whom. Betrayal as the Morcerf foundation instead of honor? Three weeks and either everything will be clear with the threat of a dual as the crowning event or a retraction to the sentences that appeared in the newspaper will be printed. Albert is released from the engagement with Mademoiselle Danglars. While he is ecstatic, cracks are forming in the dare I say friendship/acquaintanceship between Danglars and Morcerf. Who is Danglars chasing for his daughter? Cavalcanti (who, remember, is actually Villefort's missing son though none of them know it!). From there we go to a happy scene. Noirtier wants to meet with Morrel and Valentine to discuss their future, but we knew poison had to appear at some point. Remember the discussion between the count and Mme Villefort? It misses its intended victim and an innocent man dies. And who had access to it? Valentine. Does happiness last in this story?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 80-82 Villefort's world is crumbling around him. Death is surrounding him, and his daughter is accused by the doctor. Villefort assumes he is the intended victim. Is his guilty conscience pricking him? He convinces the doctor to keep his thoughts to himself. The domestic staff quit and as they exit, one person's eyes fill with tears while another smiles in satisfaction. From there we catch up with Danglars and Caderousse thanks to Andrea Cavalcanti/Benedetto. He makes his desires known to Danglars regarding his daughter, and in turn Caderousse makes his desires known to Cavalcanti. Caderousse's nature is revealed more to us as every idea and plan he has terrifies Cavalcanti. Then Cavalcanti reveals that he believes the count is his father, yet Caderousse convinces him to give him a map of the count's house to burglar. But who is the person who warns the count ahead of time? In the process of the burglary we learn some interesting things! After all, Abbe Busoni appears and the confessions roll off the lips of Caderousse easily. Now the connection of Benedetto and Caderousse is explained. A confession is written as to whom Benedetto really is. Caderousse is let go, but on his way over the wall he is murdered. Any ideas as to whom his murderer is?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 83-85 Wow! Within these 3 chapters I feel as if I have entered into some serious "meat" to chew on. Don't you love when a situation, or as in this case a book, makes you really evaluate what you believe? The exchange between Caderousse and Monsieur l'Abbe (the count) is so thought provoking. The theme? God's justice. Our intro to the count's thoughts on vengeance begins with the statement he makes about it. "Oh God, your vengeance may sometimes be slow on coming, but I think that then it is all the more complete." The count has been waiting for this moment to happen, for wrongs done to him paid for. Scripture tells us in Romans 12:19 that vengeance is God's alone. The count allowed himself to set up situations that would result in the destruction of the men that caused him so much harm. I find myself asking if he was a vessel used by God or the instigator behind it all. Until now we didn't know exactly where his thoughts fell about God. We caught some troubling glimpses while he was in prison, but time has passed, and he has had unbelievable opportunities. Were they all just a road blessed by God to set up the final blows to Caderousse, Danglars, and Fernand? It's interesting the verses surrounding the Romans 12:19 passage where we are instructed to "repay no one evil for evil," to "live peaceably with all men," to not "avenge yourself," and lastly "to not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good." Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! What has his entire motive been? It's been to lay the path but not strike the final blow. Oh, he left the door open for God to save Caderousse. Remember he told him that if he reached home safely he would believe God had forgiven him. I find myself reminiscing about some of the immature bargains I used to strike with God in my late teenage /early 20s years when I read his statement. And yet! Yet! I am cheering for him. We all love things to be righted before our earthly eyes- for people to get what's coming right?! (I am internally struggling here!) The count points out all the mercy God has shown in Caderousse's life. Abundant "warnings" (I prefer the word opportunities) that Caderousse has had and rejected. Still, Caderousse denies the justice of God. He knows people that are walking around in wealth and the height of society that have done grievous crimes right? Fernand and Danglars aren't being punished for their sins. The count cuts him off and strongly utters one word, "Patience." In other words, their time is coming. But Caderousse's resolve to reject God based on the idea of Fernand and Danglars walking around proves to be the very reason he does an about face in the end. When the count whispers in his ear who he really is that reason is null and void. Caderousse immediately realizes that it is only God who could have brought Dantes through to where he is now. I am just morally struggling with the fact that the count is making it his life's mission to see it through when we know it is all to be left to God. And so Caderousse dies and we are minutes away from Villefort's reunion with his old pal. From there we jump to the friendship of Albert and Beauchamp. Do you not long for a friend so true? I am not going to give this part the time it deserves because of how long this post already is, but the three week period was not set in place to see what would turn up. No the three weeks were for Beauchamp to travel and find out for himself the validity or falseness of the accusations made against Albert's father. As you know, they were true. The heartbreak of a son by his father is deeply moving. Can you imagine? The supposed foundation of honor, truthfulness, loyalty, etc etc that this young man stood on is shattered. Trust is no more. I have a son. I look at him and I know his innocent beliefs, hopes, and trust. I can imagine how his life would be totally upended and it gives my insides a tightening clench. But Beauchamp agrees to keep it silent. Another newspaper prints the story. There is no more hiding. And honorable Albert where are his thoughts? They are for his precious mother. So much more I could have said about these chapters, but I'll leave it there.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 86-88 Morcerf's character in the public eye is ruined, and his son and wife are drowning in the wake. (Scripture tells us our sins will be found out, and you reap what you sow does it not?)Isn't it interesting how he had his defense already planned for such a day as this? He had it planned to the tiniest detail EXCEPT the possibility of Haydee, herself, showing up to testify from direct experience. I found myself cringing for Morcerf, but then I realized that it wasn't for the Viscount. It was for Albert and his mother. What does Beauchamp encourage Albert to do? Leave Paris for a few years. Then return. Everything will be forgotten by then. Oh the fickleness of popularity, and accountability. Albert patches the pieces of information together as best he can as to who the leak was, and he arrives at the Count of Monte Cristo. After all, Haydee has lived with him and he REFUSED TO EAT while at the Morcerf ball. What other conclusion can be drawn in spite of Mercedes' protests. The glove has been taken. A duel is scheduled for the next morning. As the Count says he must make Morcerf suffer and yet later the count says he will win because God is on his side. Hmmm. Who truly is leading this path of vengeance. As a nice ending touch the orchestra strikes up the music for William Tell. Do you know the story?

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 89-91 I am chomping at the bit to finish this book! While there has been nonstop action things are wrapping up and I want to know what happens!! The count returns home from the theater (where Albert has challenged him to a duel) to prepare for the next morning. A veiled lady waits in the shadows, and we all hold our breath. There is no longer any pretending. Who we now behold are Edmond and Mercedes. She has come to plead for her son's life, but also to state the simple fact that she never stopped loving Edmond and that she knew him immediately. Edmond gives her the letter that clears his name and condemns Fernand. Everything becomes clear. Edmond grants her wish, but in doing so believes that he has willingly sentenced himself to death. Honor is at stake. Mercedes knows differently, because she knows her son. Albert does appear the next morning and calls the whole thing off. He thanks the count for his revenge on his father without doing more. His quote referring to the greatest virtue being the ability to admit being wrong is fantastic. He states that it is impossible for them to be friends but they can respect each other. The count ends the chapter convinced that he is an "emissary from God." The last thing to go over is the buried iron box - a symbol of new starts. Initially it was for the start of Edmond and Mercedes' new life that Edmond had earned himself. Buried, left behind - now to be used for the purpose of new life for Mercedes as she plans to enter a convent.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 92-94 So many points to think about in these chapters! I'm going to call these the round about chapters, because we visit some major thoughts only to come back to them in just a short time! - The courage of Albert - at the start we have the conversation between Morrel and the count about Albert's courage despite doing what society would call cowardly. We then revisit this same idea when Morcerf confronts the count. -Morrel's reference to his love for someone and the count's willingness to help if ever a need arises only to have Valentine's poisoning a few pages later. - Love - the possibility of it for the count- as Mercedes and the count have had their different interactions I have hoped that they would finally be together but Haydee? I am not sure what to do with this one! The count realizing there could be two Mercedes in the world? I understand both of them have been fractured, broken by people. But what about Mercedes? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Can you imagine the little thrill that must have shot up Morcerf's back when he saw his son return? The possibility of being avenged? The possibility of sins being returned to their dark forgotten hole and life going on? But Albert never comes to his father. The servant shares the results of the duel. The family ties are severed. Did you not love the satisfying confrontation between Monte Cristo and Morcerf. The dawning realization to Morcerf of this hate he has "instinctively" had. The feeling that he had always known the count, but of course that was impossible, wasn't it? The father calling into question the courage of his son for walking away from a duel. It was no lack of courage the count tells Morcerf. It was the realization that someone else was guiltier of the destruction of the family than he was - Morcerf himself. (Do you get the irony of Morcerf's displeasure of his son's dishonorable act when the whole reason we are at this point is because of HIS many dishonorable acts?) Morcerf demands all the layers of veneer be stripped off the count. He wants to know who he really is and the count walks into the adjoining room, strips off his finery and puts on his simple fishing clothes and returns. Morcerf - Fernand - collapses in disbelief. He returns home to find Mercedes and Albert on their way out. They never see him, they never look back as the cab pulls away. Our chapter closes with the sound of a single shot. Then we move to Valentine and Morrel. Yes, innocent Valentine is the next victim in the series of poisonings at the Villefort home. Morrel calls on the count for help and we are confronted with the count's lack of care or concern for this innocent woman's life. After all she is Villefort's daughter. An avenging angel is wiping the family out (with the help of a shared poison recipe). Not a bit of care until Morrel confesses that it is Valentine that he loves. It's flashback time! The weight of interfering in the process of "justice" where the count's enemies' children are concerned. We just had Mercedes begging for the life of Albert, remember? The count gives us the fantastic quote about being an impassive spectator comparing himself to the devil, laughing at the evil that people are able to keep secret when they are rich only to have it wound them in their heart later. Through all of this Valentine lives thanks to Noirtier's actions. We know who the poisoner is and the Villefort's gain a new neighbor. Hmmm I wonder who that is!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 95-97 Let's talk family relationships. These were some touchy chapters, but we all know people like the Danglars don't we. People who had children because it was the social thing to do. Personal gain. Even the chapter starts off remarking about "appearances." Have you known any of those families to be a "family?" It doesn't take long for the cracks and crevices to start showing through the foundation. Eugenie knows she is a pawn, and she confronts her father head on. It's not family meeting time, it's business meeting time. Right down to the chosen room with the smiling portraits and away from the bank business so her father will actually look at her while she speaks. Then the bartering begins. Eugenie doesn't want to marry. She doesn't care about her parents' money situation. She only cares about herself. That's what she's been taught to do right? When her father lays out how it will affect her then she chooses to be carry on with the plan. We then move to the scene where Prince Cavalcanti asks the count to sponsor him since his father is not in town. He wants him to be the one to lead him to the altar. The count refuses. He is king of making people put their trust in him, to make them think he is their friend, yet have no real ties to them - except for 2 people - Haydee and Morrel. You could somewhat argue for Mercedes as well, but those old ties are broken. Then we have the signing of the marriage contract. The count announces that it is his fault that Villefort cannot attend. A paper has been found in Caderousse's pocket (remember the man who attempted to break into the count's house and ended up murdered) addressed to Danglars. Cavalcanti (the murderer) is out of there. Danglars is pale as a ghost because a guilty conscience has a way of doing that to you! Where's Eugenie? She's gone. She's cut her hair to look like a man, passing herself off as her voice teacher's brother. She's convinced she can make it on her own. We circle back to our opening theme of family relationships with the ending line "Monsieur Danglars had a daughter no longer." I think he lost her long before that!

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 98-102 For those of you following TCOMC book club posts, I don't know if you noticed, but today's post is covering 5 chapters. I have been holding myself to 3 up to this point, but I can no longer leave myself "hanging" for a week! Several people that I know have been reading this fantastic classic told me that they hit a point and couldn't stop. I have reached that point. I plan on dividing the chapters up over the next 2-3 weeks and wrapping up TCOMC. Let's open today with a little discussion about relationships! So after following Andrea Cavalcanti's escape. His grab of the jewels. His rides. His fall down the chimney into none other than Eugenie and Mlle d'Armilly's room (was that not brilliant?) it dawned on me that Eugenie and Andrea/Benedetto are half brother and sister. Remember? Villefort and Madame Danglars. I knew who he was, but getting caught up in the whole Cavalcanti charade, and then bringing Caderousse back in made me momentarily lose sight of the Benedetto ordeal. Thank goodness Dumas saved us (and them) from that marriage! Whew!  Speaking of Madame Danglars let's chase her relationships for a moment. First off to visit Debray (her lover) who is not at home, but at his club listening to his friend's advice about the possibility of marrying her daughter, Eugenie. Then off to see Villefort to remind him of their past relationship in an attempt to get him to let Andrea/Benedetto just disappear, so she can keep her place in society. Of course, that was an utter fail. We'll talk about Villefort's refusal in a minute. Does anyone else feel slimy after dealing with her? Life is all about position in society to her. That position has absolutely nothing to do with being a person of character, of being respectable for standing for something moral. Although there was a tiny thought of another who recently endured such a harsh societal death through no fault of her own wasn't there? Mercedes. Let's talk about the other wife mentioned in these chapters, Madame Villefort. Murder for material gain for her son. The corruption, the greed, the justification to one's self. Dumas is a master in his telling of Madame Villefort's early morning cleaning up the evidence visit. As she leaves and turns around to take in the scene one more time, his words about the "irresistible attraction" when death is not the mess and stink of decomposition but just the look of stillness are striking. Fast forward past the discovery of Valentine, the mourning that ensues to the glass that was emptied that has mysteriously reappeared with the poison in it. The count's promise of protection if Valentine will completely trust him has us wondering if all is lost. No- the count will not fail us now. We know that our count is master of concoctions. One last person to discuss before I close today. Villefort. Did you not respect the heart and passion he feels for the job he does? The responsibility, the promise before "the living God" about the punishment of criminals? How dare Madame Danglars ask him to "pardon a guilty man." (But if it was accusing an innocent man, that's another story, right?) He is the law which makes no exceptions (except for himself). The final farewell let's us know that this relationship is over. (I hope you picked up on my sarcasm about respecting Villefort.)

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO - CHAPTERS 103-107 Today is my 27th wedding anniversary. I don't tell you that for the congratulations. I tell you that in the contrast of the breakdown of the marital relationships in our reading. Shall we start with the Danglars? The note left behind sends Madame Danglars in a panic and straight to Debray. Theirs is not just a romantic relationship, but a business relationship as well. Danglars can't account where all his money went, but he feels sure his wife can. He's right! She and Debray have been using the money to invest. Now that Danglars is out of the picture Madame Danglars hopes that something more permanent will take place between her and Debray. Not going to happen! Now that the money faucet is off, he's out of there. In another room in the same hotel we see Albert and Mercedes facing their future. Albert has signed up for the military. Mercedes heart breaks, but they are determined to make their name honorable. A lone figure watches their parting and contemplates how he can help them because of the pain he caused innocent these people. Maximilian - we can't exit these chapters without addressing his hopelessness and grief. He prepares to take his life due to the passing of Valentine, but the count steps in. He reveals himself as the benefactor. Also he reveals that exactly on that day he had stepped in and prevented Maximilian's father from killing himself years before. The count relates to Maximilian. After all he lost his true love. Life went on and he began to heal. He promises that Maximilian will as well, but that's not all he offers. He gets Maximilian to promise he will not commit suicide for 30 days and to put his trust in the count. The plan has not come to a stop with Valentine's death!