The Count of Monte Cristo

Arrival at Rue Meslay

Monte Cristo’s carriage stops at the gate where Cocles admits him. Maximilian Morrel eagerly greets the count, throwing away his cigar and hastening to welcome him. The young officer expresses warmth and gratitude for the promised visit.

The Little Versailles

The fountain’s rockwork basin with gold and silver fish has earned the property its nickname throughout the quarter. Emmanuel’s business acumen transformed the estate into a profitable investment, yet he remains as well-lodged and private as the finest mansions in the Faubourg St. Germain. The house features oak breakfast room, mahogany salon with blue velvet furnishings, citronwood bedroom with green damask, a study Emmanuel never uses, and a music room for Julie who never plays.

Maximilian Morrel

Maximilian, a young officer, was superintending his horse’s grooming and smoking at the garden entrance when the count arrived. He warmly offers to serve as guide, noting his sister Julie tends the roses while Emmanuel reads nearby.

Julie Herbault

Julie, now Madame Emmanuel Herbault, wears a silk morning gown while tending her noisette rose-trees. She utters a cry of surprise at the stranger and calls for Penelon to inform her husband. She disappears to make herself presentable for the guest.

Emmanuel Herbault

Emmanuel enters wearing proper hat and coat after changing from his jacket. He examines the house through the same window, showing his devotion to his wife. The count observes the domestic contentment that surrounds him.

Penelon the Gardener

The old sailor-turned-gardener still maintains his maritime habits, keeping tobacco in his cheek and calling Julie “Mademoiselle Julie” despite her marriage. His bronzed features and thick, graying hair mark him as weathered by tropical storms and equatorial heat.