The Count of Monte Cristo

第二十七章 The Story

This chapter details the post-imprisonment fates of figures central to Edmond Dantès’ life, including Fernand’s rise to nobility, Mercédès’s marriage to Fernand and subsequent life as a countess, and Caderousse’s encounter with the abbé that results in an exchange of a valuable diamond for a long-kept purse belonging to Pierre Morrel.

Fernand’s Post-War Career and Rise to Comte de Morcerf

After the end of the war with Spain ushered in a prolonged period of European peace that stunted Fernand’s military career, he volunteered to fight in the Greek war of independence against Turkey, with his name kept on the French army roll. He served as instructor-general under Ali Pasha, who rewarded him with a large sum of money before his death. Fernand returned to France as a lieutenant-general, adopted the title Comte de Morcerf, and owned a grand mansion at 27 Rue du Helder, Paris.

Mercédès’s Despair and Marriage to Fernand

Following Edmond’s disappearance, Mercédès was consumed by deep despair, made efforts to appeal to Monsieur de Villefort for help, and devoted herself to caring for the dying elder Dantès. When Fernand left to fight in Greece, she was left entirely alone. Three months later, Fernand returned as a sub-lieutenant; while he was not the person she longed for, his presence relieved her isolation. After the elder Dantès died, Fernand declared his love for Mercédès. She requested six months to mourn Edmond, after which the two married in the church of Accoules—the same church where she was set to wed Edmond. Eight days after their wedding, they left Marseille for Perpignan amid the Spanish war, where Mercédès cared for their young son Albert.