96. The Marriage Contract

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 In this chapter of The Count of Monte Cristo, we witness a tense and pivotal moment in the ongoing intrigue surrounding the marriage of Mademoiselle Eugénie Danglars and Andrea Cavalcanti. The chapter begins three days after the previous events, with Andrea arriving at the Count of Monte Cristo's residence, brimming with confidence as he prepares for the marriage contract signing later that evening. Despite his overfamiliar and boastful demeanor, the Count maintains a cold and reserved attitude towards Andrea, subtly hinting at his disdain while allowing Andrea to continue his self-congratulatory conversation.

Andrea, blinded by his apparent success and the prospect of marrying into immense wealth, seeks the Count's support in the upcoming ceremony, asking him to act as a father figure in the absence of his own father. However, Monte Cristo firmly refuses, citing his own moral scruples and traditions, further frustrating Andrea, who begins to sense the Count's underlying contempt. Despite this, the Count agrees to attend the ceremony as a guest and sign the contract, but his detachment leaves Andrea unsettled.

As the evening progresses, the grand salon at the Danglars' residence is filled with an opulent and perfumed crowd, eager to witness the signing of the marriage contract. The scene is one of splendor and superficiality, with guests more interested in the display of wealth and the prospect of future financial gains than in the marriage itself. Eugénie, the bride-to-be, appears confident and composed, in stark contrast to the increasingly anxious Andrea.

The tension reaches its peak when Monte Cristo arrives, commanding immediate attention from the entire assembly. His presence, though marked by simplicity, exudes an air of authority and foreboding. As the contract is about to be signed, Monte Cristo interrupts the proceedings with a chilling revelation: a bloodstained waistcoat belonging to a murdered man named Caderousse was found with a letter addressed to Baron Danglars. This shocking disclosure sends waves of panic through the crowd, especially as it becomes clear that Andrea Cavalcanti, the supposed prince and groom-to-be, is implicated in the murder.

The chapter concludes in chaos as Andrea, realizing the gravity of the situation, makes a hasty escape, leaving the guests and his fiancée in a state of shock and confusion. The Count's revelation not only disrupts the marriage contract but also exposes the fragile and deceitful nature of the alliances formed on wealth and social ambition, setting the stage for the unraveling of more secrets in the chapters to come.

 In this chapter, the aftermath of a chaotic events at the home of M. Danglars is depicted. The guests, shocked by the sudden arrival of soldiers and a shocking revelation, hastily flee the scene, leaving the mansion quickly emptied. Only a few remain: M. Danglars, who is occupied with giving a statement to the officers, Madame Danglars, who is frightened and in her boudoir, and their daughter Eugénie, who retreats to her room with her companion, Louise d'Armilly.

Eugénie, who was betrothed to Andrea Cavalcanti, learns that he is not who he claimed to be—he is an escaped convict. Despite the shock, she expresses her disdain for men in general and quickly dismisses the idea of marriage. Instead, she is determined to pursue her lifelong dream of a free and independent life as an artist. She decides to escape with Louise, as they had planned earlier.

Eugénie and Louise pack their belongings, including money and jewels, and prepare for their departure. Eugénie, demonstrating her strong will and independence, cuts her long hair and dresses in men's clothing to disguise herself. The two women manage to leave the Danglars mansion without being noticed, and they head towards a prearranged location where a post-chaise awaits them.

They instruct the postilion to take them to Fontainebleau but plan to change their destination to avoid being followed. As they leave Paris, both women are relieved and confident in their escape, with Eugénie especially pleased at having successfully taken control of her fate, away from the constraints of society and her family.

The chapter ends with the idea that M. Danglars no longer has a daughter, as Eugénie has effectively severed ties with her past life and embarked on a new journey of independence.

 In this chapter, the focus shifts back to Andrea Cavalcanti, who finds himself in a precarious situation after an unexpected interruption to his ascent in society. Demonstrating both his cunning and opportunistic nature, Andrea seizes valuable items from the bride-elect’s trousseau as he makes a hasty escape from a gathering. Despite his youth, Andrea’s quick thinking leads him to leap from a window and evade immediate capture by the gendarmes, wandering aimlessly through the streets of Paris in the dark. His flight is driven by a single thought: escape.

Andrea encounters a cab driver, whom he convinces to chase after a fictitious friend. This ruse allows Andrea to distance himself from the scene of his crime, although his journey is fraught with anxiety as he continuously inquires about the elusive green cabriolet that supposedly belongs to his friend. Eventually, he realizes that his plan to overtake the friend is futile, and he decides to rest at an inn, where he plans his next steps. His thoughts turn to how he might evade the authorities, considering various disguises and escape routes that might allow him to reach the safety of the frontier.

After a night's sleep, Andrea wakes to find himself surrounded by gendarmes at the inn. His initial panic gives way to a desperate escape attempt, utilizing his agility to climb through the chimney and onto the roof. His cleverness, however, does not last long, as the authorities are relentless in their pursuit. Andrea's luck runs out when he mistakenly descends into a room occupied by two women, one of whom recognizes him. The situation rapidly deteriorates as Andrea is cornered by the gendarmes. Faced with the inevitable, Andrea surrenders, his bravado and charm giving way to the reality of his situation.

As Andrea is led away in disgrace, the two women, Mademoiselle Danglars and Mademoiselle d’Armilly, are left to grapple with their emotions. Their departure from the inn is marked by a public spectacle, as they are forced to endure the scorn and gossip of the crowd. The chapter concludes with Andrea being taken to the Conciergerie, marking a significant downturn in his fortunes, while the women continue their journey to Brussels, burdened by the humiliation of the events they have witnessed.

 This chapter follows the events after Mademoiselle Danglars and Mademoiselle d’Armilly quietly flee, a departure that goes largely unnoticed because everyone is preoccupied with their own troubles. The focus shifts to Madame Danglars, who, after realizing the magnitude of the scandal involving her daughter, seeks out her confidant, Lucien Debray, for advice. She had pinned her hopes on her daughter's marriage as a way to free herself from the burdens of guardianship. However, Eugénie’s strong-willed nature, her disdain for Debray, and her unexpected elopement disrupt these plans, leaving Madame Danglars desperate and humiliated.

Madame Danglars initially goes to Debray, hoping he might help resolve the situation, but finds him preoccupied with his own affairs, uninterested in taking responsibility for the scandal or marrying Eugénie. Disappointed and left to wait in vain, Madame Danglars returns home late at night, still unaware of her daughter’s full intentions. She believes Eugénie is asleep, exhausted from the evening’s chaos, but as she reflects on the events, she begins to grasp the gravity of the scandal that now threatens to destroy her family’s reputation.

The next morning, Madame Danglars decides to seek help from M. de Villefort, the public prosecutor, whom she believes might be able to suppress the scandal involving Andrea Cavalcanti (revealed to be the criminal Benedetto). She reasons that Villefort, as a friend, might be persuaded to overlook certain legal formalities to protect her family from further disgrace. However, upon arriving at Villefort's house, she is met with a cold, oppressive atmosphere, indicative of the tragedies that have recently plagued his household. Despite this, she proceeds with her request.

Villefort receives Madame Danglars with a mixture of cold professionalism and personal grief. He dismisses her concerns about the scandal, viewing them as trivial compared to his own recent losses. Villefort is unyielding in his determination to see justice served, refusing to delay or obstruct the legal proceedings against Benedetto, despite Madame Danglars' pleas. He explains that the law must take its course, and any mercy or leniency is out of the question.

The chapter culminates in Villefort receiving a telegram confirming Benedetto’s arrest, which seals the fate of both Benedetto and the Danglars family. Madame Danglars leaves Villefort’s office, realizing that her last hope of avoiding public disgrace has vanished. Villefort, on the other hand, is almost morbidly satisfied with the prospect of another high-profile trial, further highlighting his descent into a cold, vengeful mindset. The chapter closes with both characters facing the harsh realities of their situations, with Villefort more determined than ever to pursue his relentless path of justice, regardless of the personal cost.

 In this chapter from The Count of Monte Cristo, we follow Valentine de Villefort, who is bedridden and in a fragile state due to a mysterious illness. Confined to her room, Valentine learns about the shocking events surrounding the flight of Eugénie Danglars and the arrest of Andrea Cavalcanti, also known as Benedetto. However, due to her weakened condition, she struggles to fully comprehend these events, with her mind clouded by a mix of vague ideas and strange fancies. Her days are marked by the attentive presence of her grandfather, M. Noirtier, and the occasional visits of her father, Villefort, which provide her some comfort and clarity.

Valentine's nights, however, are far more disturbing. Her feverish state leads her into a world of nightmares where shadows and apparitions haunt her. Her sense of reality blurs as she witnesses these eerie visions, which often include her stepmother, Maximilian Morrel, and even the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo. The fever peaks every night, causing her mind to spiral into a delirium that lasts until the early hours of the morning.

On the particular evening in question, after learning of the recent events, Valentine finds herself once again in the grip of feverish visions. As she lies in bed, the door to her library mysteriously opens, and a figure silently enters her room. Initially believing it to be another hallucination, she is startled when the figure—a man—begins interacting with her surroundings, testing her drink for poison. This interaction solidifies in Valentine's mind that the figure is not a mere figment of her imagination, but a real person.

The figure is revealed to be the Count of Monte Cristo, who assures Valentine that he has been watching over her to protect her from an insidious plot to poison her. He reveals that the nightly drink she has been taking has been laced with poison, and that he has been substituting it with a harmless concoction to ensure her survival. This revelation terrifies Valentine, as it implies that someone in her own household is trying to kill her. The Count's words and actions lead her to question the safety of her environment, and she is forced to confront the horrifying possibility that a murderer is lurking close by.

The chapter builds to a tense climax as the Count instructs Valentine to feign sleep, assuring her that they will soon discover the identity of her would-be assassin. As midnight strikes, a sense of dread fills Valentine, but she musters her courage, preparing to follow the Count’s instructions in hopes of unveiling the truth and saving her life.