The Count of Monte Cristo 1-25

Edmond Dantes, although hes one of those guys who is known mostly by his last name. He wants to know whats happened onboard. Dantes tells the man, Monsieur Morrel, that the ships captain, Captain Leclere, came down with an apoplectic fever and died. Dantes bounds up the stairs and into his fathers apartment. Hes in the middle of telling him all the news how the captain died, how hes going to be the new captain and make lots more money. Over in the area Marseille knew as Les Catalans. A beautiful, dark- haired girl is arguing with a big, swarthy man. He wants her to marry him; she just wants to be friends. Fernand was the man that wants to marry the girl. He says that he would have killed Edmond on the spot if Mercedes, the girl hadnt threatened to kill herself in retaliation. A big crowd of Edmonds friends is there, including a bunch of sailors from the pharaoh, Danglars, Caderousse, and even M.Morrel. When everyone arrives, Danglars and Caderousse are sent out to find Edmond, Mercedes and Edmonds father. The mademoiselles parents, persecuted under the rule of Bonaparte, are, shall we say, quite happy to have the monarchy restored, and a lot of the conversation at the party revolves around Napoleon and the tumultuous politics of the time. After receiving a brief from the police commissioner, de Villefort heads down to his office. He is quickly intercepted by M.Morrel. Morrel assures M. de Villefort that Edmond is innocent and honest, but Villefort isnt so easily convinced. Edmond is quickly moved from Villeforts chambers into a small, clean jail cell. After waiting around for a few hours, Edmond is paid a visit by a couple soldiers. That same evening, Villefort makes his way back to the Saint-Meran house. He lets everyone know that he must take his leave, and asks for a moment in private with the Marquis. Over in Paris, the King and his advisors are chilling at the Palais des Tuileries. King Louis XVll is doing his best to ignore one of his ministers and read some Horace; despite being the King, hes not really into politics.

Villeforts warning has come too late. Napoleon has already landed in France and is marching on Paris. Nevertheless, Villefort wins the kings gratitude, as he is the only person who was able to uncover Napoleons plot in advance. Noirtier visits Villefort. Villefort tells him father that the police are looking for a man who fits Noirtiers description in connection with the murder of a royalist general. Napoleon quickly recaptures all of France. Now that Bonapartism is no longer considered a crime, Monsieur Morrel approaches Villeforts multiple times to intercede on Dantes behalf, but he is always placated with promises. The general inspector of prisons visits the Chateau, where Dantes begs him for a fair trial. The inspector is moved by Dantes pleas and promises to look into his case. During his first six years in prison, Dantes initially turns to God, immersing himself in prayer. As he contemplates his bad luck, his despair increasingly turns to wrath. Dantes neighbor tells him that his name is Abbe Faria and that he has been imprisoned for his political beliefs, as he is an agitator for a unified Italy. Faria, rather than being insane, proves to be brilliant and resource man. He has managed to fashion paper, ink, pens, a knife, a needle, a lamp and various other necessities while imprisoned. Then Faria begins to talk about a secret treasure. Dantes becomes worried, thinking his friend is insane. Faria convinces him that the treasure truly exist in an uninhabited island of Monte Cristo. Faria forces Dants to commit the directions to the treasure to memory. Several nights later, Faria has another attack and dies. Dants hits upon a brilliant escape plan. He cuts open the shroud, removes Faria s corpse to his own cell, and then sews himself inside the shroud. He believed that dead prisoners are buried in a cemetery but then he realizes that they throw the bodies to the sea. Edmond swims desperately in the rough seas, and after some quick and tortured thinking, he decides that he must swim to one of two islands. Edmond has found his way onto a smuggler's ship. The captain wants to use the island of Monte Cristo as a meeting place for an upcoming smuggling operation.

They find themselves docked off the island's coast. Edmond loses his footing, cries out, and then falls out of sight. After watching the ship disappear over the horizon, Edmond hops up, filled with energy, and sets to work. Edmond begins to search the island for the Faria's treasure. He discovers the treasure in a cave. Edmond leaves the treasure where it is and he only takes a few precious jewels. The sailors return a week later to pick up Edmond. Edmond buys his own sweet ship with a secret room perfect for, the buried treasure. Jacopo returns with news that Louis Dants is dead, and the lady Mercds is gone.