Chapter 41. The Introduction - 45. The Shower of Blood

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 In this chapter of The Count of Monte Cristo, Albert de Morcerf proudly shows the Count of Monte Cristo his bachelor's apartment in Paris. As Albert guides the Count through the rooms, starting with his atelier, it becomes clear that the Count is more knowledgeable about the various artifacts and artworks than Albert anticipated. Monte Cristo's familiarity with the objects, from Japanese porcelain to Venetian glass and Oriental rugs, impresses Albert, who had expected to play the role of the knowledgeable host. Instead, Albert finds himself being educated by the Count in art, archaeology, and history.

As they move through the apartment, Monte Cristo's keen eye and deep understanding of the art around him continue to surprise Albert. In the salon, filled with works by contemporary artists, the Count effortlessly identifies the creators of each piece, showing not only his familiarity with their work but also a genuine appreciation for it. This further deepens Albert's admiration and astonishment at Monte Cristo's vast knowledge.

The tour leads them to Albert's bedroom, where a portrait of a young woman dressed in Catalan costume catches Monte Cristo's attention. The Count reacts emotionally to the portrait, which Albert explains is of his mother, painted in a costume she fancied. This revelation affects Monte Cristo visibly, though he quickly regains his composure. Albert shares a personal story about how the portrait, while beautiful, had displeased his father, a man more dedicated to political life than to art. This small but poignant detail adds a layer of complexity to the Morcerf family dynamics, hinting at underlying tensions.

The scene transitions as Albert invites Monte Cristo to meet his parents, the Count and Countess de Morcerf. Upon meeting Albert's father, Monte Cristo engages in a conversation that subtly reveals his deep understanding of history, nobility, and heraldry, again leaving Albert and his father impressed. The interaction is laced with irony and hidden meanings, especially when discussing the family's coat of arms and the significance of their heritage.

When they finally meet the Countess, the tension in the narrative heightens. Madame de Morcerf, who is deeply moved by Monte Cristo’s presence, thanks him for saving her son’s life. The encounter stirs strong emotions in both the Count and the Countess, with Monte Cristo maintaining his calm demeanor while hiding his inner turmoil. This meeting hints at a deeper, possibly painful connection between Monte Cristo and the Countess, which is not immediately revealed.

As the chapter closes, Albert notices his mother's unusual pallor and unease after Monte Cristo's visit. This reaction, combined with her subtle interrogation of Albert about Monte Cristo's character and origins, suggests that the Count's presence has stirred up old memories and anxieties for the Countess. Albert, though perceptive, remains unaware of the full extent of his mother's distress and the possible history she shares with Monte Cristo. The chapter ends with Albert reflecting on the Count’s remarkable presence and its effect on those around him, foreshadowing the profound impact Monte Cristo will have on the lives of the Morcerf family.

In this chapter, the narrative begins with the Count arriving at his newly acquired house in Paris, a residence chosen by his servant Ali. The house is situated on the right side of the Champs-Élysées, surrounded by a lush clump of trees and shrubs that partially obscure the front of the house. The property features a grand driveway leading from iron gates to a double portico, adorned with porcelain vases filled with flowers. This luxurious and isolated house also has a secondary entrance on the Rue de Ponthieu.

The Count arrives in a grand carriage, and as soon as he approaches the gates, they open swiftly, a testament to his influence and the efficiency with which he is served. The carriage comes to a halt at the portico, where two men greet him: Ali, who expresses deep joy at the Count's arrival, and Bertuccio, the steward, who respectfully helps the Count out of the carriage. Monte Cristo briefly inquires about the notary, who is already waiting for him inside the house.

As they enter, the Count dismisses the decor in the antechamber as mediocre, showing his exacting taste. The notary, a simple lawyer's clerk, is present to finalize the purchase of a country house that Monte Cristo had ordered. However, it becomes clear that the Count has no detailed knowledge of the property he is buying; he has never even been to Paris before. This surprises the notary, but the Count remains nonchalant, explaining that he had merely been tempted by the advertisement he saw.

The house in question is located in Auteuil, a fact that causes Bertuccio, the steward, to visibly react with fear and discomfort. Despite Bertuccio's offer to find a better property in the countryside, Monte Cristo decides to proceed with the purchase. The notary praises the house, describing it as a magnificent, albeit somewhat neglected, estate with valuable old furniture. The Count swiftly signs the deed and instructs Bertuccio to pay the notary 55,000 francs, more than the agreed amount, to ensure the notary is compensated for his time and trouble.

Once the notary leaves, Monte Cristo consults a locked book he carries with him, cross-referencing it with the deed. He confirms that the house is indeed the one located at 28 Rue de la Fontaine in Auteuil. This confirmation leads him to recall certain memories and hints that he has deeper reasons for purchasing this specific property.

Monte Cristo then summons Bertuccio, who becomes increasingly anxious as the Count inquires about his knowledge of the area around Paris. The Count mentions his intention to visit the house in Auteuil that evening, which sends Bertuccio into a near panic. Despite his clear discomfort, Bertuccio cannot refuse his master's orders and reluctantly prepares to accompany Monte Cristo to the property.

The chapter concludes with Monte Cristo firmly asserting his authority, and Bertuccio, despite his fears, dutifully obeys, indicating that the visit to Auteuil will likely reveal something significant related to Bertuccio's past. The Count's mysterious demeanor and Bertuccio's evident terror set the stage for future revelations concerning the Auteuil house.

 In this chapter, the story begins with Monte Cristo and his steward, Bertuccio, embarking on a mysterious journey to a property in Auteuil. As they descend the staircase and prepare to depart, Monte Cristo notices that Bertuccio, a Corsican, makes a sign of the cross and mutters a prayer, indicating his deep unease about the trip.

As they approach Auteuil, Bertuccio's anxiety intensifies. He becomes increasingly nervous and feverishly scans every house they pass. Monte Cristo, curious and persistent, instructs Bertuccio to direct the carriage to Rue de la Fontaine, No. 28, a location that seems to deeply disturb the steward. Despite his evident distress, Bertuccio complies, though his fear is palpable.

Upon arrival, Monte Cristo instructs Bertuccio to knock and announce their presence. The concierge, who answers the door, is informed that Monte Cristo is the new owner of the house. The concierge explains that the previous owner was the Marquis of Saint-Méran, who seldom visited the property. This information triggers an even more intense reaction in Bertuccio, who grows pale and barely maintains his composure.

Monte Cristo, noticing Bertuccio's distress, pushes forward, asking to be shown around the house. Bertuccio, though terrified, leads the way, trembling as they explore the property. They eventually reach a private staircase leading to the garden. Monte Cristo, curious, insists on exploring further, despite Bertuccio's growing agitation. When they reach a particular spot in the garden, Bertuccio finally breaks down, pleading with Monte Cristo to leave the area, as it is the exact location where a significant and terrible event occurred in his past.

Monte Cristo, undeterred and intrigued, presses Bertuccio for more information. Bertuccio, overwhelmed by his memories, begins to reveal that it was in this house, in this very spot, where he exacted revenge—a crime he had never fully confessed except to the Abbé Busoni. Monte Cristo learns that Bertuccio's vengeance was not against the Marquis of Saint-Méran but someone else, though he had carried out his act on this property.

Bertuccio explains that the house's connection to his crime was no coincidence, believing it to be a matter of fate or providence. Monte Cristo, half-mocking and half-intrigued, urges Bertuccio to confess the entire story. Bertuccio, terrified of being dismissed from Monte Cristo's service and sent to his death, begins to tell his tale, revealing that his target was none other than the former royal attorney, M. de Villefort, a man with a reputation for severe and upright justice, whom Bertuccio now calls a villain.

The chapter ends with Monte Cristo sitting down, fully captivated, and urging Bertuccio to recount the full details of his vendetta against Villefort, thus setting the stage for a deeper exploration of Bertuccio's dark past and the intertwining fates of the characters involved.

 In this chapter, Bertuccio begins recounting a pivotal story to the Count, starting in 1815. Bertuccio's narrative is steeped in personal tragedy and revenge. He reveals that he had an elder brother, a devoted Bonapartist soldier who was killed during the violent anti-Bonapartist massacres in Nîmes after the fall of Napoleon. Bertuccio, heartbroken and enraged, seeks justice from the king's attorney in Nîmes, who was then a certain M. de Villefort. However, Villefort dismisses his plea with cold indifference, prompting Bertuccio to swear a vendetta against him.

Determined to fulfill his vow, Bertuccio stalks Villefort for months. Eventually, he discovers Villefort secretly visiting a house in Auteuil. Suspecting an illicit affair, Bertuccio spies on him and witnesses Villefort burying a box in the garden one night. Driven by both curiosity and his desire for revenge, Bertuccio stabs Villefort and then digs up the box, expecting treasure. Instead, he finds a newborn child, seemingly dead from suffocation. Surprisingly, the child shows signs of life, and Bertuccio revives him. Overcome with conflicting emotions, Bertuccio decides to take the child to an orphanage in Paris, where he leaves the boy.

Later, Bertuccio's sister-in-law, Assunta, retrieves the child from the orphanage, seeing him as a divine gift. They name him Benedetto and raise him as their own, though he grows up to be a malevolent and ungrateful child. Despite their care, Benedetto becomes involved with criminals and engages in increasingly serious misdeeds.

Bertuccio's story not only reveals his deep connection to Villefort but also foreshadows the darker events that will unfold as the plot progresses, especially concerning Benedetto, whose malevolent nature becomes a source of suffering for Bertuccio and his family. This chapter sets the stage for future revelations and underscores the themes of revenge, fate, and the consequences of one's actions.

 In this chapter, a jeweler revisits the inn where he previously made a significant sale to Caderousse and La Carconte, a seemingly hospitable couple. However, a dark atmosphere lingers as Caderousse and his wife nervously entertain the jeweler, who decides to stay the night due to a fierce storm. The jeweler, unaware of any danger, retires to bed, while Caderousse becomes increasingly tense.

During the night, the narrator, who is secretly present in the inn, hears a gunshot and the sounds of a struggle. Upon investigating, he discovers the aftermath of a brutal crime: the jeweler is mortally wounded, and La Carconte is dead. Caderousse, covered in blood, searches for the diamond and other valuables, then flees into the storm. The narrator tries to assist the dying jeweler but arrives too late. He is subsequently discovered by the authorities, who mistake him for the murderer due to the incriminating circumstances.

As he recounts his experience, it is revealed that the Abbé Busoni (an alias of the Count of Monte Cristo) intervened, leading to the eventual capture and confession of Caderousse. The chapter concludes with Monte Cristo reflecting on the events and the dark nature of vengeance, hinting at the deeper layers of his complex plans.