Contents
Chapter 104.
Overview
On the morning of Valentine’s funeral, society gathers at the Villeforts while Noirtier, unexpectedly calm, sleeps and Villefort buries himself in work. Monte Cristo visits Danglars and cashes five million in bearer bonds against his credit, then departs as Boville arrives to collect charity funds. Exposed and short of liquidity, Danglars delays payment and secretly prepares to abscond with ready cash, signaling his financial collapse.
Summary
Dawn breaks over the Villefort house after undertakers shroud Valentine. Noirtier is moved back to his room and, to everyone’s surprise, sleeps peacefully. Villefort, sleepless and distraught, channels his grief into drafting the accusation against Benedetto, asking d’Avrigny to return by midday for the funeral reception.
At noon, Parisian acquaintances—Debray, Chateau-Renaud, and Beauchamp among them—assemble, trading subdued remarks about Valentine’s fate and recent scandals. They note the absence of Monte Cristo and Morrel. Meanwhile, Monte Cristo heads not to the funeral but to Danglars’ bank.
With feigned sympathy, Danglars laments his misfortunes and Eugenie’s departure. He proudly signs five bearer bonds of one million each. Monte Cristo swiftly takes the five notes as immediate repayment against his open credit, offering a receipt. Danglars panics but, cornered, lets the count keep the bonds.
M. de Boville, receiver-general for the charities, enters to collect the same five million Danglars intended to pay. Danglars claims Monte Cristo has just withdrawn it and presents the receipt, promising payment the next day and even suggesting discounting the receipt at other banks. Boville declines but fixes a noon deadline.
Alone, Danglars drops his facade. Planning flight before Boville’s return, he secures about fifty thousand francs in notes, burns papers, drafts a farewell letter to Madame Danglars, and checks his passport—resolving to be gone by the appointed hour.
Who Appears
- Baron DanglarsBanker stripped of five million by Monte Cristo; stalls a charity collector and secretly prepares to flee.
- undefinedCashes five million in Danglars’ bearer bonds against his credit, triggering the banker’s liquidity crisis.
- undefinedReceiver-general of charities; arrives to collect five million, accepts delay to tomorrow.
- Gérard de VillefortGrieving father who immerses himself in drafting Benedetto’s indictment; avoids the reception.
- undefinedFinds Noirtier sleeping peacefully; coordinates with Villefort about the funeral timing.
- Noirtier de VillefortParalyzed grandfather, unexpectedly calm and sleeping after Valentine’s death.
- undefinedAttends the reception; comments on Valentine’s death and Monte Cristo’s absence.
- undefinedjoins the funeral gathering; exchanges observations about recent scandals.
- BeauchampJournalist at the reception; reports seeing Monte Cristo heading to Danglars.
- undefinedManages receiving mourners at the funeral in Villefort’s stead.