The Fortunes of the Guilty (The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 27 – Part 6)

The abbé listens as Caderousse paints a grim contrast between the ruined and the rewarded. M. Morrel — faithful, honorable, undone by loss — now stands at the edge of despair, burdened not only by ruin but by a family he cannot save. A wife steadfast in suffering. A daughter denied her love. A son serving far away. Even death would be a mercy if not for those who depend on him.   And yet the men who destroyed Edmond Dantès prosper. Danglars, the scheming clerk, has climbed from fraud to fortune, now a baron with mansions, horses, and servants — a banker whose wealth multiplies faster than his scruples. Fernand, too, has risen, though no one knows how. The poor Catalan fisherman has somehow become a man of power and rank, his past buried beneath a mystery darker than his ambition.   The abbé’s voice trembles between irony and fury. “Ah, he is happy,” he murmurs — and the words sound less like belief than judgment deferred.   ⸻   Join us daily as we read The Count of Monte Cristo one page at a time — unabridged, immersive, and spoiler-free. Follow every twist at countdownofmontecristo.com Discuss each chapter with fellow readers on Discord: discord.gg/Sg2prdm Support the project and unlock bonus readings on Patreon: patreon.com/gruntworkpod Watch the daily episodes on YouTube: 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.