11. The Corsican Ogre - 15. Number 34 and Number 27

---

In the tense scene described, Louis XVIII reacts with intense agitation upon learning of Napoleon's return to France from exile on Elba. The king, seated at a table, pushes it away violently and demands an explanation from his minister of police, Baron Dandré, who has just confirmed a report from M. de Blacas and M. de Villefort about Napoleon's landing at a port near Antibes in the Gulf of Juan on March 1st, 1815. Louis is outraged that this critical information was only now brought to him, and he feels betrayed and let down by those in charge of his security.

Louis is deeply angered by the incompetence of his officials, particularly as Napoleon is moving through France towards Paris, and the king fears that his position is perilously close to collapse. He chastises the minister of police for failing to anticipate or prevent Napoleon’s return and laments that he is learning about his dire situation via telegraph rather than through competent intelligence.

Villefort, who is a young magistrate, is present and is noted for having foreseen the danger, though he downplays his role, attributing his success to chance rather than skill. He tactfully avoids exacerbating the situation with the minister of police, whom he senses might seek revenge against him.

The king dismisses the minister of police and M. de Blacas, focusing instead on the military response to the crisis. He expresses profound disillusionment with the reliability of reports and emphasizes the need for decisive action. The conversation then shifts to a recent murder of General Quesnel, which may be linked to the Bonapartist threat. The investigation into Quesnel’s death is ongoing, and Villefort, who is anxious about the implications for his own safety, learns that the suspect matching a description of his father, de Noirtier, has eluded capture.

The king recognizes Villefort’s potential contributions and rewards him with the cross of the Legion of Honor, appointing him to a position where he could be of great service. Villefort is deeply gratified and begins to dream of his future career advancements.

As Villefort prepares to leave for Marseilles, a mysterious visitor arrives at his hotel, identified as his father by the description matching that of the suspect from the investigation. This unexpected reunion adds a personal twist to the unfolding political drama, leaving Villefort to confront his father's arrival amidst the chaos and danger of the political climate.

M. Noirtier arrives unexpectedly at Villefort’s residence, taking great care to ensure they are not overheard. After securing the doors, he greets his son Gérard Villefort, who is visibly shocked by the visit. Villefort expresses his surprise and reveals that his journey to Paris was intended to save his father from a grave threat.

Noirtier, unfazed, calmly discusses the political situation, particularly the activities of a Bonapartist club in Rue Saint-Jacques and the recent death of General Quesnel, who was found dead in the Seine under suspicious circumstances. Villefort confirms that the king himself has declared it a murder and that he arrived in Paris quickly to warn his father. He also reveals that he intercepted a letter from the Island of Elba addressed to Noirtier, which contained crucial information that could have led to his father’s execution had it fallen into the wrong hands.

Noirtier, however, dismisses Villefort's fears, pointing out the resilience and adaptability he has developed from his past experiences with political upheaval. He reveals his own knowledge about the Emperor Napoleon’s landing and his plans, indicating that Napoleon’s return is not as perilous as the royalist government believes. Noirtier argues that the people and cities are welcoming Napoleon, and he dismisses Villefort’s concerns about the emperor’s imminent defeat.

Villefort, concerned about the safety of his father and his own career, observes as Noirtier changes his appearance to avoid detection by the authorities. Noirtier disguises himself by altering his clothing and grooming, transforming his appearance so that he will not be recognized as the person described in the police reports about General Quesnel’s disappearance.

Noirtier then gives Villefort a piece of advice: to return to Marseilles discreetly and avoid any actions that might attract attention. He also suggests that Villefort could one day benefit from the political shifts, possibly gaining favor in a new regime. After this intense and revealing conversation, Noirtier leaves the house with his new disguise, while Villefort is left to dispose of incriminating items and make his hurried return to Marseilles.

As Villefort watches his father leave, he is both anxious and determined. He manages to escape the city amidst the political chaos and uncertainty, reflecting the tumultuous nature of the era and the precarious balance of power.

This chapter describes the events that unfolded after Napoleon's return to power and the consequences for the characters involved.

M. Noirtier, a powerful and influential figure at court, had ensured that Napoleon's return would be a success. As a result, Villefort, his son, was able to maintain his position despite being suspected of royalism. However, Villefort's marriage plans were put on hold, as he was waiting for a change in the political climate to marry noted royalist Mademoiselle de Saint-Meran.

Villefort eventually revealed that Dantès was being held in a prison, but claimed that he had no information about his fate. Morrel was disappointed and left Villefort's office, but he returned later to ask for help in securing Dantès' release. Villefort agreed to assist Morrel and dictated a petition to the minister, exaggerating Dantès' patriotic services. Instead of sending the petition to Paris, Villefort preserved it in hopes of using it to further his own ambitions in the future. Meanwhile, Dantès remained imprisoned, unaware of the fate that had befallen him.

The chapter also describes the fates of other characters. Danglars, who had been jealous of Dantès' success, became increasingly fearful of his rival's return and eventually abandoned his life at sea. Fernand, who had been plotting against Dantès. Caderousse was consripted and sent to the frontier due to his age and marital status

Mercédès, who had been left alone by Dantès' disappearance, was struggling to cope with her loss. Old Dantes did in her arms, yearning for the return of his only son. M. Morrel paid for his funeral expenses as a gesture of kindness and courage. In the period after the end of the hundred days, it put him at great risk to help the family of a Bonapartist agent as notable as Edmond.

In this chapter, set about a year after Louis XVIII's restoration, the story focuses on Edmond Dantès, who is languishing in a dungeon, deeply isolated and despairing. The narrative begins with Dantès hearing faint noises from above, signaling that something unusual is happening. These noises are the sounds of preparations for a visit by the inspector-general of prisons, though Dantès, detached from the outside world, initially dismisses their significance.

The inspector-general, during his rounds, visits several prisoners who complain about the poor food and their longing for freedom. However, the inspector remains detached, viewing the visit as a mere formality. When he inquires about the more dangerous prisoners, the governor leads him to Dantès, warning that Dantès is considered particularly dangerous and even mad.

As the inspector enters Dantès’ cell, Dantès, realizing this might be his only chance to appeal to a higher authority, desperately pleads for a trial to prove his innocence. He explains how he was arrested on February 28, 1815, and has since suffered in ignorance, not knowing the fate of his loved ones or the reason for his imprisonment. The inspector listens but offers no promises, though he expresses some sympathy for Dantès, suggesting that he might investigate his case.

Following this, the inspector visits another prisoner, the Abbé Faria, who is considered mad by the prison authorities because he believes he possesses knowledge of a vast hidden treasure. Despite his madness, Faria speaks with a strange clarity and offers the inspector a share of his treasure in exchange for his freedom. However, the inspector dismisses Faria’s claims as delusional.

After the visit, Dantès, now clinging to a fragile hope sparked by the inspector's words, begins marking the days on the wall of his cell to track the passage of time. However, as months pass with no word or change in his situation, his hope fades. Eventually, a year after the inspector's visit, the governor of the prison is transferred, and with him, Dantès’ jailer. The new governor, unfamiliar with the prisoners, reduces them to mere numbers, stripping Dantès of his identity entirely as he is now referred to only as "Number 34." This dehumanizing act marks another layer of Dantès’ despair, highlighting the cruel and indifferent nature of his captivity.

 In this chapter, we witness the intense psychological and emotional torment of Edmond Dantès, who has been unjustly imprisoned. Initially, Dantès clings to the hope that his innocence will eventually be recognized. However, as time drags on and no reprieve comes, he begins to question his own innocence and sanity, a doubt reinforced by the governor's suspicion of his mental instability. His pride crumbles, leading him to beg for basic comforts like fresh air, books, and a change of cell—anything to alleviate the monotony and despair of his confinement. These requests are denied, and Dantès' despair deepens.

As his pleas to man are ignored, Dantès turns to God, rediscovering the prayers his mother taught him. His prayers bring him some solace, but when they fail to change his circumstances, he sinks into a darker state of mind. Rage and blasphemy replace his religious fervor, and he becomes obsessed with thoughts of his destroyed happiness and the apparent cruelty of fate. His anger is so intense that he even considers suicide as a way to end his suffering. He contemplates hanging himself or starving to death but ultimately decides on starvation, as it seems a less dishonorable death.

Despite his resolution, Dantès finds himself struggling with the primal urge to survive. He reluctantly eats the meager food provided, but his determination to die remains strong. As his physical strength wanes, so too does his resolve, until he reaches a point where he is almost relieved by the prospect of death. Just when he is on the brink of dying from starvation, he hears a faint scratching sound in the wall of his cell. This noise reignites a spark of hope within him, and he realizes it could be another prisoner attempting to escape.

Dantès carefully listens to the sound, trying to discern whether it is truly a sign of escape or merely the work of the prison's maintenance crew. As his strength returns, so does his clarity of thought. He decides to test the source of the noise by knocking on the wall, hoping that if it is indeed another prisoner, they will respond. The noise stops, confirming Dantès' suspicion that he is not alone in his efforts to escape.

With renewed determination, Dantès begins to work on removing the stones from his cell wall, using whatever tools he can find. He even tricks the jailer into leaving behind an iron saucepan, which he uses as a lever to dislodge the stones. As he toils, the hope of freedom drives him on, even as he faces the immense challenge of digging through the thick prison walls. Dantès' spirit, once crushed under the weight of despair, is now rekindled by the possibility of escape and the companionship of a fellow prisoner who might share his desire for freedom.

This chapter captures Dantès' descent into despair and his miraculous resurgence of hope, illustrating the indomitable human spirit in the face of relentless suffering.