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Count of Monte Cristo Ball

21:34 recording · EN · 1 speaker

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Brief overview

At the Morcerf ball the Count of Monte Cristo dazzles Paris yet pointedly refuses all food under that roof.

  1. The Count is the talk of Paris, fortune and mystery combinedSeventeen guests ask Albert whether he will come; the police have made inquiries into his unusual splendour.
  2. Danglars loses two hundred thousand francs on Franck and PoulmannMonte Cristo withdrew his million a month ago; Danglars had already honoured the bankrupts' bills.
  3. Monte Cristo will not eat in the Morcerf houseMercedes reads his refusal even of an ice as an intended abstinence, and turns pale.
Executive Summary AI
  • The chapter opens at ten o'clock at night at Monsieur de Morcerf's ball, where a clear starry sky settles supper on the lawn under coloured lanterns in the Italian custom, with about ten servants preparing the table.
  • Albert tells the Baroness Danglars she is the seventeenth person to ask whether the Count of Monte Cristo will come, that the Count is the rage of Paris, and that at the opera he threw a magnificent ring on a bouquet to the dancer during the Cachucha.
  • Madame de Villefort repeats gossip the police gathered at the prefect's the night before: the Count's family name is Zaccone, he is a Maltese ship-owner's son who served in India, discovered a mine in Thessaly and comes to Paris to open a mineral water cure at Auteuil.
  • Monte Cristo tells Danglars that the Frankfurt bankers Franck and Poulmann have just gone bankrupt, that he withdrew his own million from them a month ago, while Danglars has already honoured two hundred thousand francs of their bills.
  • Mercedes notices the Count has never been willing to take food under Monsieur de Morcerf's roof, has the blinds thrown open onto the garden supper, and asks the Count for his arm to lead the guests outside.
Key Quote
“You were going to ask me if the Count of Monte Cristo had arrived, or was expected.”
— Albert
Key Quote
“while you, sacrificing the Baron, would still remain the millionaire.”
— Albert
Key Quote
“one's title to a millionaire does not last for life.”
— Monte Cristo

Transcript

0:00 THE COUNT OF MONTECRISTO september two thousand six the count of monte cristo chapter which the ball was to take place at Monsieur de Mossef's. It was ten o'clock at night.
0:48 The branches of the great trees in the garden of the Count's house stood out boldly against the
0:53 azure canopy of heaven, which was studded with golden stars, but where the last fleeting clouds
1:00 of a vanishing storm yet lingered. From the apartments on the ground floor might be heard
1:06 the sound of music, with the whirl of the waltz and gallop, while brilliant streams of light
1:12 shone through the openings of the Venetian blinds. At this moment the garden was only occupied by
1:20 about ten servants, who had just received orders from their mistress to prepare the supper,
1:26 the serenity of the weather continuing to increase. Until now it had been undecided
1:32 whether the supper should take place in the dining-room, or under a long tent erected on
1:38 the lawn, but the beautiful blue sky, studded with stars, had settled the question in favour of the lawn.
1:47 The gardens were illuminated with coloured lanterns, according to the Italian custom,
1:52 and as is usual in countries where the luxuries of the table, the rarest of all luxuries in
1:58 their complete form, are well understood, the supper-table was loaded with wax-lights
2:04 and flowers.
2:07 At the time the Countess of Mosef returned to the rooms, after giving her orders, many guests were
2:14 arriving, more attracted by the charming hospitality of the Countess than by the distinguished position
2:20 of the Count. For, owing to the good taste of Mercedes, one was sure of finding some devices
2:27 at her entertainment worthy of describing, or even copying, in case of need. Madame d'Anglard,
2:35 in whom the events we have related had caused deep anxiety, had hesitated about going to
2:41 Madame de Mossef's, when during the morning her carriage happened to meet that
2:45 of Villefort. The latter made a sign, and when the carriages had drawn close together, said,
2:52 You are going to Madame de Morcef's, are you not?
2:56 No, replied Madame d'Anglard. I am too ill.
3:01 You are wrong, replied Villefort significantly. It is important that you should be seen there do you think so asked the baroness i do in that case i will go therefore came, not only beautiful in person, but radiant with splendor. She entered by one door,
3:27 at the time when Mercedes appeared at the door. The Countess took Albert to meet Madame d'Anglard.
3:35 He approached, paid her some well-merited compliments on her toilette, and offered his
3:40 arm to conduct her to a seat. Albert looked around him. You are looking for my daughter, said the Baroness, smiling.
3:49 I confess it, replied Albert. Could you have been so cruel as not to bring her?
3:55 Calm yourself. She has met Mademoiselle de Villefort, and has taken her arm. See,
4:01 they are following us, both in white dresses, one with a bouquet of camellias,
4:07 the other with one of myosotis. But tell me—well, what do you wish to know? Will not the Count
4:15 of Monte Cristo be here to-night?
4:17 Seventeen! replied Albert. What do you mean? I only mean that the Count seems the rage,
4:24 replied the Viscount, smiling, and
4:26 that you are the seventeenth person that has asked me the same question. The Count is in
4:31 fashion. I congratulate him upon it. And have you replied to every one as you have to me?
4:38 Ah, to be sure. I have not answered you. Be satisfied. We shall have this lion. We are among the privileged ones.
4:48 Were you at the opera yesterday? No. He was there.
4:53 Ah, indeed! And did the eccentric person commit any new originality?
4:57 Can he be seen without doing so? Elsler was dancing the Diable Boiteau. The Greek princess was in ecstasies. After the

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