The Count of Monte Cristo · Chapter
The Prison Register explained
An Englishman, claiming to be the chief clerk of Thomson & French of Rome, visits the mayor of Marseilles and then the inspector of prisons, M.
What happens
An Englishman, claiming to be the chief clerk of Thomson & French of Rome, visits the mayor of Marseilles and then the inspector of prisons, M. de Boville, to inquire about the financial state of Morrel & Son. He offers to buy de Boville's debt of two hundred thousand francs in exchange for access to the prison registers. While examining the records, he learns the story of Abbé Faria's death and Edmond Dantès' daring escape from the Château d'If, and secretly takes Danglars' original accusation against Dantès.
Themes in this chapter
Identity and Transformation
The Englishman's true identity as Edmond Dantès in disguise is subtly revealed through his actions and knowledge, showing his transformation into a mysterious figure.
Betrayal and Deception
The discovery of Danglars' false accusation and Villefort's manipulation of the records underscores the theme of betrayal that set Dantès' revenge in motion.
Fate and Providence
The Englishman's seemingly coincidental purchase of de Boville's debt and access to the prison registers suggests a providential hand guiding Dantès' plans.
Characters to notice
- Edmond Dantès
Referenced as the dangerous prisoner who escaped the Château d'If by taking the place of the dead Abbé Faria.
- Abbé Faria
Mentioned as the crazy abbé who died in the Château d'If, having dug a tunnel to Dantès' cell.
- Baron Danglars
His original accusation against Dantès is discovered and taken by the Englishman from the prison register.
- Gérard de Villefort
His marginal notes and handwriting are identified in the prison register, revealing his role in Dantès' imprisonment.
- Policar Morrel
His firm, Morrel & Son, is in financial trouble; his petition for Dantès is found in the register.
- M. de Boville
The inspector of prisons who sells his debt to the Englishman and recounts the story of Dantès' escape.
Key passages
“I am chief clerk of the house of Thomson & French, of Rome. We are, and have been these ten years, connected with the house of Morrel & Son, of Marseilles.”
The Englishman introduces himself as a representative of a Roman firm that has long done business with Morrel & Son.
This is the first step in the Englishman's plan to investigate Morrel's finances and gain access to the prison records.
“I had two hundred thousand francs placed in the hands of Morrel & Son; these two hundred thousand francs were the dowry of my daughter, who was to be married in a fortnight.”
De Boville reveals that his daughter's dowry is tied up in Morrel's failing business, putting her marriage at risk.
This desperation makes de Boville eager to sell his debt to the Englishman.
“The Château d'If has no cemetery, and they simply throw the dead into the sea, after fastening a thirty-six-pound cannonball to their feet.”
De Boville explains the prison's method of disposing of bodies by weighting them and throwing them into the sea.
This detail is crucial to understanding Dantès' escape plan.
“He folded up the accusation quietly, and put it as quietly in his pocket; read the examination, and saw that the name of Noirtier was not mentioned in it.”
The Englishman secretly takes Danglars' original accusation and notes that Villefort's examination omitted any mention of Noirtier.
This act shows the Englishman's true purpose: to gather evidence for his revenge.
