The Fifth of September (The Count of Monte Cristo — Chapter 30, Part 14)

Cocles enters the study to find a man utterly changed. The discoveries of the past three days have crushed Morrel’s spirit so completely that he seems aged by decades. The single thought — the House of Morrel is about to fail — weighs on him more heavily than any hardship he has endured across his life.

Morrel instructs Cocles to remain in the antechamber and to announce the arrival of the agent from Thomson & French the moment he appears. Cocles silently nods and takes his place outside. Morrel sinks into his chair and fixes his gaze on the clock: only seven minutes remain before eleven. He watches the minute hand advance with unbearable clarity.

In his final solitude, Morrel’s mind is a storm of anguish. He is young enough to have years ahead, loved deeply by his wife and children, yet he believes he must remove himself from their lives to preserve their honor. His reasoning may be flawed, but to him it feels tragically inevitable. His face reflects this forced resignation, his eyes raised toward heaven as tears gather.

The seconds slip past. The pistols lie ready; he reaches for one, whispers his daughter’s name, then sets it down again to write a few final words — a farewell he fears he has not expressed fully enough. The clock continues its relentless march, and Morrel waits, counting the time not in minutes now, but in seconds, as the moment he has chosen draws near.

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The Countdown of Monte Cristo is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel — every day, for four years. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Count of Monte Cristo.

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The Breakfast — Guests Depart as the Count Remains (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 40 – Part 24)

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The Breakfast — Monte Cristo Describes His Household and Slave (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 40 – Part 23)

In The Count of Monte Cristo, the Rue du Helder breakfast continues as the Count explains how his Paris house has been prepared in advance. He describes Ali’s work in securing the residence, and names...

23 Aug 11min

The Breakfast — Monte Cristo Declines and Reveals His House in Paris (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 40 – Part 22)

In The Count of Monte Cristo, the Rue du Helder breakfast continues as offers of lodging are pressed upon the Count. He declines them all, stating that his house in Paris has already been purchased an...

22 Aug 6min

The Breakfast — Morrel Offers His Sister’s House (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 40 – Part 21)

In The Count of Monte Cristo, the Rue du Helder breakfast turns to the question of where the Count will reside in Paris. The guests propose the Faubourg Saint-Germain, the Chaussée d’Antin, and the Bo...

21 Aug 13min

The Breakfast — Monte Cristo Names Danglars and Thomson & French (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 40 – Part 20)

In The Count of Monte Cristo, the Rue du Helder breakfast shifts as Albert names Eugénie Danglars as his future betrothed. The Count inquires after Baron Danglars and reveals that he holds credit with...

20 Aug 8min

The Breakfast — Albert Describes Paris and Offers His Guidance (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 40 – Part 19)

In The Count of Monte Cristo, the Rue du Helder breakfast turns as Albert describes Paris to the Count. He contrasts the city’s civilized order with the bandits and landscapes of Italy, offering inste...

19 Aug 7min

The Breakfast — Monte Cristo Refuses the Title of Philanthropist (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 40 – Part 18)

In The Count of Monte Cristo, the Rue du Helder breakfast continues as Albert calls the Count a philanthropist for his actions in the catacombs. Monte Cristo rejects the praise, recounting instead the...

18 Aug 10min

The Breakfast — Monte Cristo Explains His Pact with Vampa (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 40 – Part 17)

In The Count of Monte Cristo, the Rue du Helder breakfast turns as the Count explains his connection to Luigi Vampa. He recounts meeting him as a shepherd, later capturing him and his band, and releas...

17 Aug 9min