Contents
Chapter 83.
Overview
Mortally wounded outside Monte Cristo’s house, Caderousse is carried inside, where Monte Cristo, disguised as the Abbe Busoni, summons a surgeon and Villefort. Monte Cristo secures Caderousse’s signed deposition naming Benedetto/Andrea as his attacker, denounces Caderousse’s crimes, then reveals his identity, triggering Caderousse’s last-minute repentance before death.
The deposition imperils Benedetto and advances Monte Cristo’s larger designs, while the count’s chilling “One!” marks the grim progress of his retribution.
Summary
Caderousse, stabbed while fleeing Monte Cristo’s trap, staggers back crying for help. Monte Cristo, in his Abbe Busoni disguise, brings him inside, has Ali fetch Villefort and alert a surgeon, and examines the mortal wounds. To keep Caderousse conscious, the Abbe administers drops from a phial.
Driven by revenge, Caderousse identifies his assailant as Benedetto, now posing as Andrea Cavalcanti, and dictates a statement. Monte Cristo writes the deposition; Caderousse signs it, giving Andrea’s lodging and origins. The Abbe promises to relate further details implicating Benedetto’s plot and surveillance.
As Caderousse oscillates between fear and defiance, Monte Cristo delivers a severe moral reckoning: God’s mercies squandered, fortunes abused, and crimes escalating from betrayal to murder. He asserts that providence allowed Benedetto’s ambush and that no one will escape justice. Caderousse denies God, demands aid, and accuses the Abbe of neglecting priestly duty.
Pressing the spiritual reckoning, Monte Cristo contrasts Caderousse’s despair with his own safety and purpose. When challenged about his identity, he drops the Busoni guise and, privately, reveals his true self with a whispered name. The revelation shocks Caderousse into acknowledging God; he begs forgiveness and dies.
Monte Cristo, gazing at the corpse, utters “One!” as a grim tally of vengeance fulfilled. Moments later, the surgeon and Villefort arrive to find the Abbe Busoni praying beside Caderousse’s body, with the signed deposition ready to direct justice toward Benedetto.
Who Appears
- undefinedAids the dying Caderousse, secures his deposition against Benedetto, delivers moral judgment, reveals his true identity, and witnesses Caderousse’s death.
- undefinedMortally wounded robber; identifies Benedetto, signs a deposition, rails against providence, then repents and dies after recognizing Monte Cristo.
- undefinedOffstage assailant; named by Caderousse as the murderer and exposed as the conspirator behind the burglary.
- AliMonte Cristo’s servant; carries Caderousse inside and fetches Villefort and a surgeon.
- undefinedProcureur summoned by Monte Cristo; arrives after Caderousse’s death to receive the case.
- undefinedSummoned to treat Caderousse; arrives too late to save him.
- undefinedAwakened to send for the surgeon and assist on arrival.