Welcome back, everyone to 1001 Stories for the Road and the Count of Mardi Cristo by

Alexandra Dumas. Today, chapter 48, ideology. Our last chapter was called the dappled grays, and I'm sure you remember there were a few

key points to be made from this episode.

One, many reviewers thought it was strange to see the Count treat Ali the way he did,

telling him that the boy had insulted him, and ordering him to put his life in danger

by stopping two charging horses.

And just how did they spook those horses?

One thing is for sure, the Count is ingratiating himself, not only to the Dangler's family,

but to the Villaport family as well.

So the next question is, with all the family members, both good and in the

case of the children, bad, what will happen to all of them? Do we just call them

collateral damage? Or is the count playing God? One thing reviewers say is that those years in prison

changed Dantes considerably, and he's no longer

the man he was. It seems that his soul has been completely devoured by revenge. And now,

Chapter 48, Ideology. If the Count of Monte Cristo had been for a long time familiar with the

ways of Parisian society,

he would have appreciated better the significance of the step which Monsieur de Villefort had taken.

Standing well at court, whether the king regnant was of the older or younger branch,

whether the government was doctrinaire liberal or conservative,

looked upon by all as a man of

talent, since those who have never experienced a political check or generally so regarded,

hated by many, but warmly supported by others, without being really liked by anybody.

...