Welcome back, everyone to 1001 Stories for the Road.

This is your host, John Haggardorn, at chapter 15 of the Count of Monte Cristo by

Alexandra Dumas.

In this chapter, Dante becomes good friends with Abby Ferrea,

and now our story, Chapter 15, number 34, and number 27.

Dante's passed through all the stages of torture natural to prisoners in suspense.

He was sustained at first by that pride of conscious innocence which is the sequence to hope.

Then he began to doubt his own innocence, which justified in some measure the governor's belief in his mental alienation,

and then, relaxing his sentiment of pride, he addressed his supplications, not to God, but to man.

God is always the last resource.

Unfortunates who ought to begin with God do not have any hope in him until they have exhausted all other means of deliverance.

Dantes asked to be removed from his present dungeon into another, even if it were darker and deeper, for a change, however disadvantageous, was still a change, and would afford him some amusement.

He entreated to be allowed to walk about, to have fresh air, books, and writing materials.

His requests were not granted, but he went on asking all the same.

He accustomed himself to speaking to the new jailer, although the latter was, if possible,

more taciturned than the old one, but still, to speak to a man, even though mute, was something.

Dante spoke for the sake of hearing his own voice.

He had tried to speak one alone, but the sound of his voice terrified him.

Often, before his captivity, Dante's mind had revolted at the idea of assemblages of prisoners,

made up of thieves, vagabonds, and murderers. He now wished to be amongst them, in order to see

some other face besides that of his jailer. He sighed for the galleys with the infamous costume,

the chain, and the brand on the shoulder.

...