The Count of Monte Cristo

Albert Requests Solo Carriage for His Romance

When Albert returns overjoyed that evening, he reveals the masked peasant removed her mask to show him her face, and he has determined she is a member of the aristocracy. He asks Franz for the favor of using the carriage alone the next day to pursue his romance, reasoning that his absence the prior day is why the woman chose to reveal her identity. Franz, curious about such romantic adventures and eager to accommodate his friend, agrees to spend the next day watching the Carnival from the windows of the Rospoli Palace instead.

Albert Receives Secret Letter from His Admirer

The next morning, Franz watches Albert carry an enormous bouquet of white camellias as he travels the Carnival route, and later sees the bouquet in the hands of a harlequin in rose-colored satin, confirming Albert has delivered his love letter to the mysterious woman. That evening, Albert returns triumphantly with a folded reply from his admirer, which he shares with Franz: the letter invites him to meet her at 7pm the next Tuesday (the final day of Carnival) near the Via dei Pontefici, instructs him to tie a rose-colored ribbon to his harlequin costume to be recognized, and emphasizes the need for constancy and discretion.

Franz Notes Count’s Enigmatic Byronic Persona

Franz remains puzzled by the Count of Monte Cristo, who clearly recognizes Franz from their earlier meeting but never references their prior acquaintance. Out of consideration for the count’s past generosity, Franz avoids bringing up their previous interaction. He observes the count’s severe, Byronic features: his pale complexion, stern brow marked by the lines of bitter thought, fiery penetrating eyes, and haughty, disdainful upper lip, noting the count has a natural authority that commands respect from the younger men around him. Franz both admires and feels intimidated by the count, and hopes to avoid being in Paris when the count eventually visits.

Count Gifts Private Theatre Box to Friends

Two days later, after dinner, the Count of Monte Cristo returns from a trip to Civita Vecchia and visits Franz and Albert. He learns the pair were unable to secure a box for the Argentina Theatre, and offers them the key to his own private box, claiming he plans to attend the Palli Theatre so the box would otherwise go unused. The friends initially hesitate out of concern for depriving the count, but accept when he assures them the box would be wasted otherwise. That evening at the theatre, Franz shares the news of Albert’s romantic adventure with the Countess G——, who congratulates Albert, and the group plans to meet at the upcoming Duke of Bracciano’s ball.

Carnival Tuesday Races and Moccoli Celebrations

On the final, most chaotic day of Carnival, Franz and Albert join the raucous street festivities, exchanging confetti with other carriages and pedestrians without any incidents. At 3pm, fireworks signal the start of the traditional horse races on the Corso: after a detachment of carbineers clears the street, a group of barberi horses race past at lightning speed, with the winning horse announced by cannon fire from the Castle of Saint Angelo. After the races, the crowd moves on to the moccoli tradition, where participants buy small candles and compete to keep their own lit while extinguishing others’ candles, creating a dazzling scene of 50,000 flickering lights filling the streets for two hours. At the appointed 7pm time, Albert exits their carriage in the Via dei Pontefici, carrying his lit moccolo, and fights off masks trying to extinguish it as he heads toward the church of San Giacomo to meet his mysterious admirer.

KAPITEL 36. The Carnival at Rome

This chapter, titled Chapter 36. The Carnival at Rome, depicts the final moments of the Roman Carnival, following Franz as he observes Albert’s interaction with a masked peasant, the abrupt official end of the festivities, and the sudden, overwhelming darkness that leaves Franz isolated.

Masked Crowd on the Carnival Steps

The carnival steps are densely packed with masked revelers who compete to snatch one another’s torches. Franz keeps his gaze fixed on Albert as he mounts the first step of the crowded staircase.