The Count of Monte Cristo

Albert and the Mysterious Peasants

At the second turn of the Corso, the count exits the carriage, leaving it and his servants (dressed in a bear-skin coat and green monkey costumes, respectively) at Franz and Albert’s disposal, and invites them to use his box at the Argentina Theatre when they tire of the Carnival. Franz spots a blue domino at a white-damask window of the Rospoli Palace, which he assumes belongs to the beautiful Greek woman he saw the previous night. Albert becomes fixated on a passing carriage full of Roman peasants, convinced the occupants are charming women in disguise. During a subsequent encounter, Albert’s mask falls off, and he throws the remaining bouquets from his carriage into the peasant carriage; one occupant throws a bunch of violets back to him, which he keeps as a token.

The Bunch of Violets

Albert treasures the bunch of violets as a sign the mysterious peasant woman is interested in him. The pair encounter the peasant carriage several more times, and the woman claps her hands when she sees Albert wearing the violets in his buttonhole. Albert insists they should not pursue her further that day, waiting for her to make a sign the next day if she wishes to continue their acquaintance, and Franz teases him about his romantic caution. When they return to the Rospoli Palace later, the count and blue domino have disappeared, and the bell signaling the end of the Carnival procession rings, ending the day’s events on the Corso.

The Count’s Offerings

The carriage drives Franz and Albert back to their hotel, where Signor Pastrini informs them the count has arranged a separate carriage for his own use, and has gifted them the key to his private box at the Argentina Theatre for the evening. The two friends are hesitant to impose on the count’s generosity, but his servant reassures them the carriage is at their full disposal for the day, so they accept the offer.