The Count of Monte Cristo

Presenting the Count of Monte Cristo

Baron Danglars formally introduces the Count of Monte Cristo to his wife, boastfully noting that the count plans to spend 6 million francs in Paris over the coming year, and will host endless balls, dinners, and lawn parties. The group exchanges light pleasantries: Madame Danglars laments that Paris has few amusements in summer, and teases the count for placing women second to horses when describing the values of his Eastern travels. Lucien Debray exchanges distant, formal recognition with the count, and a casual, friendly nod with Danglars, before the count and baroness greet each other with formal courtesy. The interaction is abruptly interrupted when Madame Danglars’s maid enters the boudoir with urgent news.

The Dappled Grays Disappear

Madame Danglars’s maid informs her that her pair of prized dappled gray horses, which she had promised to lend to Madame de Villefort for a trip to the Bois the next day, have been removed from the stables without her knowledge or her coachman’s awareness. Enraged, Madame Danglars immediately accuses her husband of selling the horses for personal profit. Danglars claims the young, spirited horses were too unsafe for his wife to ride, and promises to replace them with calmer, steadier animals, but Madame Danglars responds with undisguised contempt.

The Secret Sale Revealed

Danglars privately explains to his wife that he sold the horses for an enormous profit of 16,000 francs to a buyer willing to pay any price, and offers her 4,000 francs and their daughter Eugénie 2,000 francs as compensation for the loss. As he speaks, Lucien Debray notices the exact pair of missing dappled grays harnessed to Monte Cristo’s carriage outside the window. Danglars is left stunned and speechless, while Madame Danglars confirms the horses are indeed hers. Monte Cristo feigns surprise, and tells Debray to relay to the baroness that he paid roughly 30,000 francs for the horses via his steward, without realizing they belonged to the Danglars family. Realizing he has been thoroughly outmaneuvered, Danglars is left crestfallen as Debray quickly leaves to avoid witnessing Madame Danglars’s rage, and Monte Cristo departs, satisfied with the leverage he has gained over the family.