The Count of Monte Cristo

第一百零四章 Danglars’ Signature

This chapter covers the immediate aftermath of Valentine de Villefort’s death, including funeral preparations, the varied grief responses of her family and Parisian social acquaintances, and the Count of Monte Cristo’s successful scheme to claim five million francs from the banker Danglars by calling in a pre-existing credit line, alongside Danglars’ subsequent deception of a charity official to hide the missing funds.

Valentine’s Funeral Preparations

The morning after Valentine’s death, undertakers complete their work, wrapping her body in a fine cambric winding-sheet she had purchased two weeks prior.

Noirtier’s Calm Grief After Valentine’s Death

Two hired men move Noirtier from Valentine’s room to his own with no resistance; when d’Avrigny visits at 8 a.m., he finds Noirtier sleeping calmly and almost smiling in his armchair, a stark contrast to his previous hypersensitivity to even minor disturbances, which d’Avrigny attributes to grief having stunned him.

Villefort Discusses Sorrow and Work With d’Avrigny

Villefort shows d’Avrigny he has not slept in two nights, instead filling pages with the written accusation against the assassin Benedetto, declaring that work is his only comfort and distraction from his grief; he tells the doctor he will skip the funeral reception to continue working, as it allows him to forget his sorrow.

Guests Gather for Valentine’s Funeral Reception

At 11 a.m., mourning coaches arrive at Villefort’s home, drawing a crowd of idle onlookers to the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré; the reception room gradually fills with leading Parisian figures from the legal, literary, and military spheres, with Villefort’s appointed cousin ushering guests in and maintaining a neutral, unmoved demeanor to avoid pressuring others to perform overt grief.