The Fifth of September (The Count of Monte Cristo — Chapter 30, Part 8)

Julie obeys her father’s unusually firm request to remain with her mother, staying motionless in the room despite her anxiety. Moments later the door opens, and she is swept into the arms of her brother, Maximilian, whose sudden arrival brings an outburst of joy and relief. Madame Morrel embraces her son, and Maximilian immediately senses the gravity of the situation from the fear reflected in their faces. At his mother’s request, Julie hurries out to tell her father of Maximilian’s arrival. But on the staircase she encounters a stranger holding a letter. Speaking with a strong Italian accent, he asks if she is Julie Morrel and hands her a message, insisting it concerns her father’s best interests. The letter is from “Sinbad the Sailor.” Its instructions are precise and urgent: she must go at once to No. 15, Allées de Meilhan; obtain the key to a fifth-floor room; retrieve a red silk purse from the mantel; and deliver it to her father before eleven o’clock. She is reminded that she once swore to obey implicitly — and that she must undertake this mission alone, for if anyone accompanies her, the porter will deny all knowledge. The messenger vanishes before she can question him. Holding the letter, Julie realizes this mysterious intervention may be the only hope left to save her father.   Links Explore every chapter and insight: https://countdownofmontecristo.com Join the reader community on Discord: https://discord.gg/Sg2prdm Support the project and unlock bonus readings: https://patreon.com/gruntworkpod Watch daily readings on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@countdownofmontecristo   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.