The Count of Monte Cristo

Morrel Offers Rue Meslay Apartment for Monte Cristo

Morrel Offers Rue Meslay Apartment for Monte Cristo Morrel offers Monte Cristo a suite of apartments in a charming Pompadour-style hotel on the Rue Meslay, inhabited by his sister for the past year. The count asks whether Morrel’s sister is married, and Morrel replies that she has been married for nearly nine years. When asked if she is happy, Morrel says she is as happy as a human creature can be, having married Emmanuel Herbaut, a man who remained faithful to the family through their fallen fortunes. Morrel explains that he himself lives there during leave and that he and his brother-in-law will be entirely at the count’s disposal. Morcerf protests that the count would be immured like Sinbad the Sailor, but Morrel insists that his sister and brother-in-law are young, gay, and happy, and the count would be in his own house, seeing them only as he chooses.

Monte Cristo Reveals Pre-Arranged Paris Residence

Monte Cristo Reveals Pre-Arranged Paris Residence Monte Cristo thanks Morrel and says he will content himself with being presented to his sister and brother-in-law, but cannot accept any of the offers since his habitation is already prepared. Morcerf exclaims that a hotel will be dull, but the count reminds him of how well he was lodged at Rome. Morcerf notes that the count spent fifty thousand piastres on those apartments, but the count explains that he had decided to have a house of his own and sent his valet de chambre ahead to buy and furnish it. The guests are astonished that a Nubian mute could be trusted with such a task, but Monte Cristo assures them that Ali knows his tastes, caprices, and wants, has been in Paris for a week, and arranged everything. Ali met the count at nine o’clock at the Barrière de Fontainebleau, knowing he would arrive at ten, and handed him a paper with the address of his new home. The count says he read the address only that morning and has never seen the house.