Chapter 31: Italy: Sinbad the Sailor
Young Paris aristocrats, Albert de Morcerf and Franz d’Epinay decide to meet in Rome for the carnival. While Albert heads to Rome directly, Franz travels toward the Isle of Elba. Franz visits the island of Monte Cristo where he is greeted by smugglers. He is invited to dine with the smuggler’s captain who calls himself Sinbad the Sailor (Dantes in disguise). Franz enters the lavishly decorated underground palace, dines with Sinbad, talks of his travels, and takes hashish which causes him to have enchanted visions. Chapter 32: The Awakening Franz wakes up in the grotto. There is no sign of the enchanted palace nor a trace of last night’s events. He sees Sinbad sailing away on his yacht. Franz heads to Rome and finds Albert at the hotel. Chapter 33: Roman Bandits As Franz and Albert make preparations for the carnival, they hear a story about the bandit, Luigi Vampa, from hotel owner, Maitre Pastrini. Story: Luigi and Teresa are two sheepherders who have grown up together. Luigi tells Teresa terrible stories about Cucumetto, the captain of the bandits. As an adult, Luigi meets Cucumetto, hides him and does not reveal his whereabouts. Chapter 34: Vampa Pastrini’s story continues…Teresa and Luigi go to Rome for the carnival. Teresa dances with a man, Luigi is jealous and takes her away. Later, the man’s villa catches fire but the man’s daughter is saved. Luigi shows Teresa a grotto filled with jewelry and costumes (stolen from the villa). Luigi hides Teresa in the grotto when he hears a stranger approach. The stranger asks for directions and Luigi guides him to the road. The stranger is Sinbad the Sailor. Franz is surprised at hearing the name. As the stranger leaves, Luigi hears Teresa cry out and sees a man carrying her away. Luigi shoots the man who is Cucumetto. Luigi becomes captain of the bandits. Albert does not believe the story, he says Luigi is a myth. Chapter 35: The Colosseum Franz and Albert visit the Colosseum at night. Albert goes with a guide while Franz goes to sit alone. He sees a man with a broad brimmed hat and another man talking about tomorrow’s planned executions. They discuss Peppino, a poor shepherd, who they will try to help escape. Franz thinks the man in the hat is Sinbad the Sailor (Dantes). Later, Albert and Franz go to the opera and meet a countess they know from Paris. They ask about a lovely woman and the man behind her in the shadows. When the man comes into the light, Franz knows it is Sinbad the Sailor. Back at the hotel, Franz and Albert receive an invitation from the Count of Monte Cristo for tomorrow’s festivities. The next morning, Franz asks Pastrini about the executions. One man, who murdered a priest, will be bludgeoned and the other man, an accomplice of Luigi Vampa, will be beheaded. Albert and Franz go to meet the Count in his hotel room. Chapter 36: La Mazzolata The Count of Monte Cristo (Dantes) welcomes Albert and Franz into his lavish hotel room. They discuss the executions and the carnival over breakfast. The Count offers his carriage and viewing rooms to his visitors. Franz does not want to see the executions but decides to go with Albert. Franz is suspicious of the Count, Albert thinks he is delightful. The men travel to the execution site and take their place in the viewing room. Spectators fill the streets. An executioner enters the crowd followed by the prisoners and priests. At the last second, Peppino is pardoned. The other prisoner tries to escape but is hit in the head by the executioner. Franz almost faints, Albert turns white and closes his eyes, the Count is unfazed. Chapter 37: The Carnival at Rome The carnival begins. The men dress up in costumes and masks for the carriage procession. The Count lets Albert and Franz use his carriage as he returns to the hotel. The carnival lasts many days with carriages racing through the streets covered in confetti and flowers. At night, Albert and Franz visit the theatre. Fireworks and candles light the air during the last day of the festivities. Albert meets a girl and leaves. The carnival ends at 8 pm as Lent begins. Chapter 38: The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian Franz receives news that a stranger awaits him at the hotel with news of Albert. Franz takes a letter from the messenger then goes into the hotel. In the letter, Albert instructs Franz to obtain money to free him. At the bottom is a message from Luigi Vampa that says if the money isn’t there my morning, Albert will be dead. Franz goes to the Count for help. The Count reads the letter then summons the messenger from the street. The messenger is Peppino, the pardoned prisoner. Peppino explains that Albert thought he was meeting a girl (Teresa) but really met a boy impersonating a girl, who led him out of the city and into the catacombs where Luigi and Teresa were waiting. The Count, Franz and Peppino go to the catacombs and sneak up on Luigi and his bandits. The Count asks Luigi why he has disrespected his friend. Luigi apologizes for not realizing Albert was the Count’s friend. They wake Albert, who is unusually calm for a prisoner, and leave the catacombs. Chapter 39: The Rendezvous The next morning, Albert and Franz visit the Count. Albert asks how he can repay the Count’s kindness. The Count says he will visit Paris in three months and asks if Albert will be his guide. Albert happily agrees and gives him his address. The next day, Albert leaves for Paris, the Count goes to Naples and Franz travels to Venice. Chapter 40: The Guests It is three months later. Albert receives guests for breakfast at his small apartment. He instructs his servant to let his mother know that he will be bringing a guest to her at 3 p.m. As Albert reads the newspaper, Lucien Debray, the private secretary to the Minister of Interior, and Beauchamp, the newspaper editor, enter. Chapter 41: The Breakfast Lucien and Beauchamp ask Albert about his possible marriage arrangement with Danglar’s daughter. Chateau-Renaud, a French nobleman, and officer Maximilian Morrel enter. Chateau-Renaud tells the men how Morrel saved his life. Albert receives Maximilian as a new friend. Albert relates the story of his kidnapping to the party. He also tells of Franz’s experiences with Sinbad the Sailor. The Count of Monte Cristo arrives and is introduced to the men. The Count’s eyes flash with recognition when introduced to Maximilian. At breakfast, the Count shows the group a large, hollow emerald where he keeps his homemade sleeping pills. The Count asks questions about Baron Danglars and talks to Maximilian about his sister. The breakfast party breaks up leaving Albert and the Count alone. Chapter 42: The Presentation Albert and the Count go to meet his parents. His father (Fernand) greets them. Fernand explains he was in the armed services but has retired to politics. He is flattered by the Count and does not recognize him. Albert’s mother (Mercedes) enters and thanks the Count for saving her son’s life. The Count says he must leave and tend to his new house. After he leaves, Albert goes to his mother. He asks about her health as she looks pale. Mercedes asks Albert about the Count’s name, home and age. Albert says the Count is a remarkable man. She asks about Fernand’s reaction to the Count then goes to sleep. Albert notes his mother’s reaction to the Count. Chapter 43: Monsieur Bertuccio The Count enters his new house on the Champs Elysses where a notary is waiting with papers to buy a country house. The Count sends a card of introduction to Danglars then instructs his servant, Bertuccio, to accompany him to his new country house. Bertuccio pauses when he hears the address of the house. Chapter 44: The House at Auteuil During the 20-minute drive to the country house, Bertuccio prays and sweat forms at his brow. At the house, they are greeted by a servant who says the last master rarely visited the house after his daughter died 21 years ago. Bertuccio becomes more anxious as they enter the house and panics when they enter the garden. The Count asks what is wrong and Bertuccio says it is here that he committed murder. Comments are closed.
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AuthorCrystal Phillips has been the Library Director at Cook Public Library since 2014. Archives
March 2020
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