1. The count is a masterful manipulator, twisting the definitions of “poison” and “conscience” to bend Madame de Villefort to his will… did anyone else initially wonder whether he was gaslighting her by planting a false memory of an encounter in Perugia? (Assuming the encounter did actually happen—which seems more likely—why does Dumas choose to present it through the count’s memory?)

2) The count details a very specific chain of poisoning from prey to predator; is vengeance a metaphorical poison? (And do you think the count has contemplated whether he is [or will be] part of a chain of vengeance?)

3) Does Madame de Villefort’s explicit acknowledgement of the tension between being a woman and being passionate about science strike you as forward-thinking or lazy on Dumas’ part?

Final sentence of chapter:

“The next day, as he had promised, he sent the recipe she had asked for.”

previous chapter discussion