Since spoiler markings aren't shown on mobile, please use the Spoilers Topic to discuss events from later in the book.

Discussion starters:

1.) Why do you think the Count will not eat in certain places, such as at the Morcerf's, and why is this so significant to Mercédès? If hospitality concepts, such as the Greek Xenia imply protection from a host, then does a guest's refusal imply malice?

2.) In several instances, Dumas has created fairytale/1001 Nights imagery and situations. In this chapter, the Count enters the ball a bit like Cinderella--late and attracting all the attention. And then we have Mercédès giving strange instructions to Albert in order to test the Count. In many fairy tales, listening to a parents' advice can be fatal. Did anyone notice anything else?

3.) We didn't get much between Mercédès and the Count. The Count can barely pull this off, I think (so maybe he will run off like Cinderella by the end of the night). She seems to be narrowing in on something... What do you think?

4.) Other points of discussion?

Final Line:

Behind them, by another outlet, a group of about twenty persons rushed into the garden with loud exclamations of delight.

Previous Discussion

The next discussion will be up this Saturday.