The Count of Monte Cristo

KAPITEL 27. The Story

This chapter details the post-imprisonment fates of figures central to Edmond Dantès’ life, including Fernand’s rise to nobility, Mercédès’s marriage to Fernand and subsequent life as a countess, and Caderousse’s encounter with the abbé that results in an exchange of a valuable diamond for a long-kept purse belonging to Pierre Morrel.

Fernand’s Post-War Career and Rise to Comte de Morcerf

After the end of the war with Spain ushered in a prolonged period of European peace that stunted Fernand’s military career, he volunteered to fight in the Greek war of independence against Turkey, with his name kept on the French army roll. He served as instructor-general under Ali Pasha, who rewarded him with a large sum of money before his death. Fernand returned to France as a lieutenant-general, adopted the title Comte de Morcerf, and owned a grand mansion at 27 Rue du Helder, Paris.

Mercédès’s Despair and Marriage to Fernand

Following Edmond’s disappearance, Mercédès was consumed by deep despair, made efforts to appeal to Monsieur de Villefort for help, and devoted herself to caring for the dying elder Dantès. When Fernand left to fight in Greece, she was left entirely alone. Three months later, Fernand returned as a sub-lieutenant; while he was not the person she longed for, his presence relieved her isolation. After the elder Dantès died, Fernand declared his love for Mercédès. She requested six months to mourn Edmond, after which the two married in the church of Accoules—the same church where she was set to wed Edmond. Eight days after their wedding, they left Marseille for Perpignan amid the Spanish war, where Mercédès cared for their young son Albert.

Mercédès’s Later Life as Countess

To support Albert’s education and distract herself from her persistent grief over Edmond, Mercédès cultivated skills in drawing, music, and other refined pursuits as Fernand’s fortune grew. She rose to become one of the most prominent ladies in Paris as Comtesse de Morcerf, though Caderousse notes that despite her wealth and high social standing, she remains deeply unhappy.

Exchange of the Diamond for Morrel’s Purse

When Caderousse fell into destitution, he sought assistance from Fernand and Danglars: Danglars refused to receive him, while Fernand sent him 100 francs via his valet. As Caderousse left Fernand’s home, Mercédès dropped a purse containing 25 louis at his feet. Later, the abbé gives Caderousse a diamond worth 50,000 francs (originally intended to be shared among Edmond’s friends) on the condition that Caderousse hand over the faded red silk purse that Pierre Morrel had left on old Dantès’ chimney, which Caderousse had kept in his possession.

Caderousse’s Plan to Verify the Diamond

After receiving the diamond, Caderousse’s wife La Carconte suspects the gem may be counterfeit, warning that the abbé may have given it to him to extract his secrets without payment. To verify the diamond’s authenticity, Caderousse plans to travel to the Beaucaire fair, where Parisian jewelers are present, to have the stone appraised, leaving La Carconte to watch their home in his absence.

KAPITEL 28. The Prison Register

An Englishman claiming to represent the firm of Thomson & French visits Marseilles seeking information about the struggling Morrel & Son, and upon learning of their financial distress, purchases M. de Boville’s two hundred thousand franc debt from the desperate prison inspector at full value. In exchange for this generous payment, the Englishman extracts information about the Château d’If from the registers, specifically requesting details about the Abbé Faria and the notorious prisoner Edmond Dantès, whose story of tunneling between cells and escaping in a burial sack the inspector recounts with evident satisfaction. The Englishman studies the prison records with particular attention to Dantès’ file, noting Villefort’s damning marginalia and pocketing the original accusation document, thereby securing crucial evidence of the conspiracy that wrongfully imprisoned the future Count of Monte Cristo.

The Englishman at the Mayor’s Office

A man presenting himself as an Englishman arrived at the mayor of Marseilles’ office the day following events on the road between Bellegarde and Beaucaire. Dressed in a bright blue frock coat, nankeen trousers, and white waistcoat, he claimed to be chief clerk of the house of Thomson & French in Rome. He explained that his firm had been connected with Morrel & Son of Marseilles for ten years, with approximately a hundred thousand francs loaned on their securities, and that reports of the firm’s impending ruin had prompted his urgent visit from Rome for information.