The Count of Monte Cristo

Villefort Discusses Sorrow and Work With d’Avrigny

Villefort shows d’Avrigny he has not slept in two nights, instead filling pages with the written accusation against the assassin Benedetto, declaring that work is his only comfort and distraction from his grief; he tells the doctor he will skip the funeral reception to continue working, as it allows him to forget his sorrow.

Guests Gather for Valentine’s Funeral Reception

At 11 a.m., mourning coaches arrive at Villefort’s home, drawing a crowd of idle onlookers to the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré; the reception room gradually fills with leading Parisian figures from the legal, literary, and military spheres, with Villefort’s appointed cousin ushering guests in and maintaining a neutral, unmoved demeanor to avoid pressuring others to perform overt grief.

Debray, Château-Renaud, and Beauchamp Converse About the Funeral

Debray, Château-Renaud, and Beauchamp gather to discuss the funeral: they mourn Valentine’s youth, beauty, and sudden death, reference the marriage contract she was set to sign weeks prior, debate the identity of the man hosting the reception, note that a newspaper article about the series of deaths in Villefort’s home may displease the procureur, and observe that Monte Cristo (who was on his way to visit his banker Danglars) and Morrel are absent from the gathering.

Monte Cristo Heads to Danglars’ Residence

Beauchamp correctly notes that he encountered the Count of Monte Cristo on his way to the funeral, as the count was traveling to Danglars’ residence on the Rue de la Chaussée d’Antin.

Danglars Shares News of Eugénie’s Departure

Danglars greets Monte Cristo and laments a string of recent misfortunes, including Morcerf’s public dishonor and death, the scandal caused by Benedetto’s villainy, and finally reveals that his daughter Eugénie has left Paris: unable to bear the insult to their family from Benedetto, she traveled away with a relative (not her mother) and will likely not return to France due to her pride, a grief Monte Cristo notes is easily soothed by Danglars’ vast wealth.

Danglars Signs Five Million Franc Bonds

Danglars mentions he was in the process of signing five 1-million-franc Bank of France bearer bonds, having already signed two, and completes the remaining three signatures in Monte Cristo’s presence.

Monte Cristo Claims Danglars’ Five Million Franc Deposit

Monte Cristo seizes the five signed bonds to settle a debt: he notes he holds a 6-million-franc credit with Danglars, having already drawn 900,000 francs, so the 5 million in bonds covers the remaining balance plus a 100,000-franc surplus, which he forgives. He presents a full receipt for the 6 million, leaving Danglars horrified; though Danglars initially protests the funds were earmarked for charity, he eventually consents to let Monte Cristo keep the bonds, while nervously framing the loss as a trivial difference in payment form.

M. de Boville Arrives to Collect Charity Funds

As Monte Cristo prepares to depart, the valet announces the arrival of M. de Boville, the Receiver-General of Parisian charities, who has come to collect a 5-million-franc donation from Danglars; Monte Cristo remarks he arrived just in time to secure Danglars’ signatures before Boville’s arrival, then leaves after exchanging a formal bow with Boville.

Danglars Lies to Boville About the Missing Five Million

Danglars lies to Boville, claiming the Count of Monte Cristo just withdrew the full 5 million francs earmarked for charity via an unlimited credit line, presenting the count’s 5.1-million-franc receipt from the Rome-based house of Thomson & French as proof; he falsely claims the count also holds large credit lines with Rothschild and Lafitte, and left a 100,000-franc surplus in his account, leaving Boville awestruck and planning to solicit further charitable donations from the count.

Discussion of the Morcerfs’ Charitable Donation

Boville brings up the example of the Morcerfs, who recently donated their entire 1.2–1.3 million franc fortune to hospitals rather than spend money they considered guiltily acquired, with the mother retiring to the countryside and the son enlisting in the army; Danglars dismisses their choice as excessive scruples, while Boville notes he registered their official deed of gift the prior day.