Bargaining for the Carnival (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 33 – Part 2)

Rome refuses to yield easily—but determination and negotiation begin to turn the tide. If the Carnival cannot be escaped, it must be met head-on. In this passage of The Count of Monte Cristo, Albert insists on staying in Rome to witness the Carnival, even if it means seeing it from the street rather than a grand window. Franz takes charge of bargaining with Signor Pastrini, sparring over prices until a compromise is reached. Within the hour, a modest hack carriage—suddenly elevated to private status—arrives at the door, a small but vital victory in a city ruled by scarcity. This moment matters because it marks their first hard-won foothold in Rome’s chaos: not comfort, but access—secured through wit, persistence, and resolve.   New to the journey? Start from the beginning at: http://countdownofmontecristo.com Want to talk theories, themes, or betrayals? Join the conversation on our Discord: https://discord.gg/Sg2prdm Support the project on Patreon and receive full-length, story-only audio after each chapter: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf3vyewhvQugX5M3oREl57A   The Countdown of Monte Cristo is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel — every day, for four years. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Count of Monte Cristo. If you enjoy this show, be sure to check out Odyssey: A Daily Odyssey through Homer's The Odyssey — wherever you listen to podcasts!