The Count of Monte Cristo · Chapter
Luigi Vampa’s Bill of Fare explained
Danglars awakens in a brigand's cell, realizing he has been captured by Luigi Vampa's band.
What happens
Danglars awakens in a brigand's cell, realizing he has been captured by Luigi Vampa's band. He finds his money and watch untouched, but when he demands food, he is subjected to extortionate prices: 100,000 francs for a fowl and the same for bread. Peppino, his captor, forces him to write a draft for 4,998 louis on his Roman bankers before allowing him to eat.
Themes in this chapter
Wealth and Corruption
Danglars' wealth is turned against him as he is forced to pay exorbitant sums for basic sustenance, highlighting the corrupting and isolating power of money.
Revenge and Justice
The extortion serves as a form of poetic justice orchestrated by Monte Cristo, punishing Danglars for his past greed and betrayal.
Characters to notice
- Baron Danglars
Awakens in captivity, initially relieved his valuables are intact, then subjected to extortion for food.
- Peppino
Acts as Danglars' keeper, enforcing Luigi Vampa's extortionate pricing for food.
- Luigi Vampa
Implied as the mastermind behind the captivity and the extortion scheme.
- Albert de Morcerf
Mentioned as the source of Danglars' knowledge about the brigands.
Key passages
“We awake from every sleep except the one dreaded by Danglars. He awoke.”
Danglars wakes up from his sleep, but unlike most people, he dreads consciousness.
Opening line establishing Danglars' terror upon waking in captivity.
“May I be hanged if I can understand how people can eat such filth!”
Danglars expresses disgust at the bandit's coarse food.
Shows Danglars' initial arrogance and disdain for his captors.
“Your excellency has 5,050,000 francs in your pocket; that will be fifty fowls at 100,000 francs apiece, and half a fowl for the 50,000.”
Peppino calculates that Danglars' money can buy exactly fifty and a half fowls at the inflated price.
Reveals the bandits' precise knowledge of Danglars' wealth and their extortion scheme.