The Count of Monte Cristo

The Charges Against Fernand

The Charges Against Fernand Monte Cristo demands they recall all names, revealing the depth of his hatred for Fernand Mondego. He explains that his vengeance is not directed at the French captain or the Count of Morcerf, but at the fisherman Fernand and the husband of Mercédès the Catalane. He catalogs Fernand’s betrayals: passing as French while serving English interests, fighting against Spain despite being Spanish by birth, and most damningly, betraying and murdering Ali Tepelini after being his stipendiary. He considers these acts far more odious than the letter Mercédès will soon see.

The Damning Letter

The Damning Letter Monte Cristo goes to his secretaire and retrieves a faded paper—the very letter that Danglars wrote to the king’s attorney denouncing Edmond Dantès as a Bonapartist conspirator. He had purchased this document for two hundred thousand francs from the file against Edmond Dantès, retrieved when he was disguised as a clerk from Thomson & French. He hands it to Mercédès, explaining that this letter caused his arrest fourteen years ago on the very day before his wedding, posted by Fernand himself who was her lover at the time.

The Depths of Suffering

The Depths of Suffering Monte Cristo reveals the full extent of his suffering: fourteen years imprisoned in a dungeon at Château d’If, merely a quarter league from Mercédès. He learned upon his release that his father had died of hunger and that Mercédès had married Fernand, his calumniator. He speaks of renewing his vow of vengeance every single day of those fourteen years. Mercédès shudders, crying “Can it be?” She acknowledges that Fernand’s betrayal was terrible, and Monte Cristo declares he has already avenged himself on the fisherman Fernand.