The Count of Monte Cristo

Dantès’ Failed Revival Attempt for Faria

Dantès places the trembling lamp on a projecting stone above the bed and waits confidently for the right moment to administer the restorative. Believing the time has come, he pries open Faria’s teeth with a knife, counts out twelve drops, and watches. After ten minutes, a quarter of an hour, and half an hour with no change, his hair erect and his brow bathed in perspiration, he makes the last trial and pours the remainder of the phial down the purple, gaping lips. The draught produces a galvanic effect: violent trembling pervades the old man’s limbs, his eyes open in a fearful stare, he heaves a shriek-like sigh, and then his convulsed body settles back into its former immobility, the eyes remaining open. For an hour and a half, Edmond leans over his friend, hand on his heart, feeling the body grow cold and the pulse become deeper and duller, until at last the heart stops entirely, the face turns livid, and the open eyes become glazed. At six o’clock, as dawn breaks, Dantès sees that he is alone with a corpse. Overcome with invincible terror, he cannot press the lifeless hand, cannot close the eyes that open again as soon as shut, extinguishes the lamp, carefully conceals it, and withdraws, sealing the entrance to the secret passage with the large stone as he descends.

Dantès Conceals Secret Passage Entrance

Dantès seals the secret passage entrance with the large stone as he descends, extinguishes the lamp, and carefully conceals it. He withdraws just in time, for the jailer is beginning his rounds. The turnkey enters Dantès’ cell, then proceeds to Faria’s dungeon with breakfast and linen, showing no sign that he knows anything of what has occurred.

Dantès Overhears Jailers’ Mockery

Seized with an indescribable desire to know what is happening in his friend’s dungeon, Dantès returns through the subterraneous gallery and arrives in time to hear the turnkey call for help. Other turnkeys arrive, followed by soldiers and the governor. Dantès hears the creaking of the bed as they move the corpse and the governor order water thrown on the dead man’s face. When the prisoner does not recover, a doctor is sent for. After the governor departs, words of pity mingled with brutal laughter fall on Dantès’ listening ears: one voice wishes the “madman” good luck in seeking his treasure; another mocks that his millions will not pay for his shroud; a third jests that shrouds at the Château d’If are inexpensive; and a fourth quips that, as a churchman, he might receive the honors of the sack.

Official Examination of Faria’s Corpse

Dantès loses none of the words, though he comprehends little of their meaning. When the voices cease, he suspects they may have left a turnkey to watch the dead and so remains mute and motionless in the gallery. After an hour, he hears the governor return, followed by the doctor and other attendants. A moment of silence indicates that the doctor is examining the body, and the official inquiries begin.

KAPITEL 19. The Third Attack

Chapter 19. The Third Attack Following Abbé Faria’s death, prison officials arrive to certify and handle the body, subjecting it to legal formalities while Dantès hides nearby and witnesses the proceedings in horror. Once the officials depart, Dantès emerges from the tunnel into the empty chamber.

Doctor Confirms Prisoner’s Death

Doctor Confirms Prisoner’s Death The doctor examines the symptoms of the malady and declares the prisoner dead. Dantès, listening from behind the wall, is indignant at the casual manner in which questions and answers are exchanged, feeling the abbé deserves far more love and respect than is shown.

Governor Mandates Legal Death Formalities

Governor Mandates Legal Death Formalities The governor expresses regret at the abbé’s death, noting he was a quiet, inoffensive prisoner. However, out of official duty, he insists that the proper legal formalities be fulfilled, not content with a simple examination, and orders that the irons be heated.