Bienvenue à Marseille | 2025 The Count of Monte Christo, read-a-long

I enjoyed this chapter actually. I agree it's likely Benedetto.

Yes, exactly!

I hadn't made the connection that Andrea might be Benedetto either, but would make a lot of sense.

Maybe Edmond is setting Andrea up to marry Danglars' daughter, ruining Danglars. After all, currently Danglars is starry eyed when it comes to the Count.

Yes, the fallen angel description was a bit of a tell. Also, why introduce the character of Benedetto, have him commit the most horrendous act if not to use him later. What better way than to wreak revenge on his own biological father!

Gosh! What a farce! What is it in aid of?
I think the line that described the young man's good looks that were 'stamped with a beauty similar to that of a fallen angel' suggests to me that it could be Benedetto.

The chapter wasn’t explicit (also reading in French) but was intriguing and quite tongue in cheek. Dumas is having fun setting everything up… the bit that was a big clue was when the two men talk without the Count - they appear not to know each other at all and quickly fall to discussing how much money each of them will be getting - clearly they have agreed to something but it’s not yet revealed what.

@TonTonMacoute maybe Andrea will turn out not to be Benedetto, but I’m not sure I can cope with yet another character so I hope they are one and the same!

I think there is no hint in chapter 55 that the Major is an imposter. I got the impression that he was genuine, but is being used because he is on his uppers.

Andrea is obviously a fraud, hadn't crossed my mind that he was Benedetto, but that is a very good call!

No idea what's going on, Edmond has set a lot of figurative plates spinning ready for this dinner party! Can't wait!!

I am finding it quite hard to follow all the shenanigans. I wonder if 19th century readers had the same problem!

I understood he was an imposter. "Cavilcanti" and "Andrea " discuss how much money they've been given.

@TimeforaGandT ta da

Having a shocker at work so have fallen a week behind so not reading the thread in case of spoilers. Managed three chapters yesterday so hopefully back on track soon. However, now find myself trying to recall who some of the more minor characters are - I could do with a Jilly Cooper style cast list! Hopefully back soon.

I was confused by today’s chapter too and wondered if he was an imposter, but it wasn’t explicit I don’t think.

Thank you @cassandre I did wonder...
He sounded very doddery, but I didn't pick up on anything else I don't think.

@FuzzyCaoraDhubh I'm reading in French too, and I would say that chapter isn't as clear cut as Shmoop would make out! Shmoop is being a bit spoilery again if you ask me, ha.

Ahh...I didn't get that. I'll blame the fact I read it in French.

Shmoop:

Ch 54 A Flurry in Stocks

• Albert and Lucien Debray (Mrs. Danglars's lover) visit the Count's house.
• Albert is not too excited by the prospect of marrying Eugénie Danglars. He thinks she's too smart and not girly enough for him. Plus, his mom, Mercédès, doesn't want to be tied to the Danglars family, and Albert doesn't want to upset his mother in any way shape or form.
• Then the topic of conversation shifts to Lucien's lover (Mrs. Danglars) who likes to gamble with her husband's money by playing the stock market, as it were.
• Albert teases about this, but Lucien gets a little moody.
• The Count realizes that Lucien (a government official) gives Mrs. Danglars lots of important and confidential information about the stocks that he absolutely should not be giving to anyone.

Ch 55 Major Cavalcanti

• The Count continues to surprise us with the many tricks he's got up his sleeve.
• He meets with two random dudes and promises them beaucoup bucks if they pretend to be two different dudes.
• The Count wants one dude to pretend to be Bartolomeo Cavalcanti, a former Italian soldier who has been searching for his son who had been kidnapped fifteen years before.

It crossed my mind too that this lad could be Benedetto or is he just another good-looking boy with blond hair of similar age?

No clue what was going on in today's chapter!

Today’s chapter was funny! Clearly a complete set-up organised by the Count - the other guy didn’t have a clue 😂 Is the son going to turn out to be Benedetto??

FFS I had been wondering who Moncerf was!

I half wish I'd made notes as I went - but then it becomes homework and I'd probably stop reading 😆

Thank you @AgualusasLover and @cassandre . I had also missed that the Comte de Moncerf was Fernand not Albert. Think I need to reread that bit of the chapter!

Thank you @AgualusasLover , very useful!
Not to mention witty. Eg 'Edouard = PITA'. Agreed 😂

That’s really helpful @AgualusasLover / @LeylaOfCircassia , thanks very much! It was getting hard to keep track of the younger generation and who’s in love with whom!

When there are no spoliers left I will post the diagram, because it really is very good with lots of arrows connecting people.