1. Do Villefort’s respect for his father’s will in the previous chapter and now his commitment to ensuring Valentine’s dowry even if it has to be at his own expense cast him in a different light from how we’ve always perceived him? Has the story been blinding us to the possibility of Villefort’s feeling remorse about Dantès and wanting to atone?

2. Who or what might the captive bird, subject to the whims of a tyrant (Édouard here pouring ink into its water dish) represent? What might the ink represent?

3. Does the count’s insect metaphor for the telegraph have any significance?

Final sentence of chapter:

“At the door, the count met the two notaries who had just disinherited Valentine and were leaving, delighted at having completed a piece of business that was bound to do them credit.”

previous chapter discussion