Chapter 81.

Andrea Cavalcanti visits Baron Danglars to request Eugénie’s hand. Danglars, delighted by Andrea’s claimed income and maternal inheritance, tentatively agrees, discussing dowry and investment terms. Andrea cites Monte Cristo’s support and presents a 20,000-franc draft; Danglars advances him 80,000 francs, further binding the prospective alliance.

Andrea returns to his hotel and receives a summons from Caderousse. To avoid recognition, Andrea borrows his servant Pierre’s livery and slips out to meet Caderousse in a poor apartment.

Over breakfast, Caderousse laments dependence on Andrea’s monthly 200 francs, presses for more money, and proposes schemes to “realize” capital. He needles Andrea about marrying Eugénie and forces him to raise the allowance to 500 francs and to promise 1,200 francs in silver the next day. Caderousse also extracts Andrea’s ring.

To placate him, Andrea boasts that Monte Cristo is his true father and has left him 500,000 in a will with a codicil acknowledging him. Caderousse, enticed, probes for details of Monte Cristo’s wealth and security. Andrea, imprudently, sketches the plan of the Champs‑Élysées house, noting low walls, big windows, absent shutters and dog, devoted servants lodged separately, an accessible secretary, and that the count will be at Auteuil the next night.

Caderousse fixates on the opportunity, pockets the diamond after testing it, and escorts Andrea out, mentioning a special lock he designed. Alone, he studies the house plan and resolves that hastening Andrea’s inheritance would make him a “friend,” clearly contemplating robbery and worse.