Recount of the Baroness’ Past Speculative Gains
Danglars methodically catalogues the baroness’s previous “dreams” and “instincts” that guided his speculations: her February tip about Haitian funds yielded 400,000 francs, of which she received 100,000; her instinct about a railway grant tripled shares and earned a million, of which she took 250,000; her political conversation at the minister’s dinner led to a 600,000-franc gain on Spanish shares, of which she received 500,000 livres. He points out that in total she has taken 500,000 livres from his gains this year.
Accusation That the Baroness Funded Debray
Danglars accuses the baroness of “spoiling everything” three days later by discussing politics with Debray, who misled her into believing Don Carlos had returned to Spain. He sold his shares at a loss when the false report spread, and he now demands a fourth of his loss—175,000 francs—asserting that if she does not possess the sum, she must have lent it to her friends, Debray among them. He further claims to have watched Debray leave pocketing all 500,000 livres she handed him this year.
Danglars’ Demand to Halt Fortune Drain
Danglars enumerates the costs he has silently borne over the past four years—100,000 francs for her music and his dancing lessons—and asserts that he has been aware of her conduct for sixteen years. He declares that, thanks to his pretended ignorance, none of her friends from Villefort to Debray has dared to ridicule him. He forbids her from making him hateful or ridiculous, and above all from ruining him, demanding that her diplomatist lover either give his lessons gratis or never set foot in the house again.
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