Debate Over the Count’s Wealth and Background
The group debates the Count of Monte Cristo’s wealth and background. Morcerf compares the count to a poor fisherman from Arabian Nights who hides the riches of the Indies in a secret cavern, suggesting the count’s modest appearance is a deliberate disguise for his vast fortune. Debray asks if Morcerf has seen the count’s reputed Greek mistress, and Morcerf confirms he has seen her at the theatre and heard her during a breakfast with the count, noting the count eats very little, leading to further questions about his nature.
Rumors of the Count’s Vampire Reputation
The conversation shifts to rumors about the count’s strange reputation: Morcerf notes that the Countess G——, who knew the rumored vampire Lord Ruthven, has declared the Count of Monte Cristo is a vampire, prompting laughter from the group as the breakfast finally approaches its scheduled time.
第四十章 The Breakfast
The chapter centers on a breakfast gathering hosted by Albert de Morcerf, where his friends initially trade rumors and speculation about the enigmatic Count of Monte Cristo ahead of his scheduled visit. The count arrives suddenly and silently, impressing the group with his polished demeanor, before engaging in warm interactions with the guests, revealing unusual personal habits, recounting his past connections to Roman bandits, and laying out his unorthodox personal philosophy.
Friends Debate the Count’s Mysterious Reputation
Albert de Morcerf’s friends Lucien Debray, Beauchamp, and Château-Renaud trade rumors and speculation about the Count of Monte Cristo ahead of his scheduled visit. Debray provides a detailed physical description of the count and notes his unsettlingly calm, polite demeanor when discussing the details of torture at a public execution, which left Morcerf shuddering. Morcerf remarks that the count’s formidable presence makes Parisian idle socialites seem like a different race entirely, while the friends joke that rumors frame the count as a vampire or sorcerer who made a pact with the devil, dismissing the stories as fanciful ahead of his arrival.
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