Welcome back, everyone to 1001 Stories for the Road.

This is your host and storyteller, John Haggardorn.

Coming up, the Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 9.

I'll give you a bit of a summary first.

Villafort returns to his fiancé's home and announces that he must leave for Paris.

He confides to his father-in-law that if he can only reach the king in time, his fortune will be made.

On his way out, Villaford encounters a Mercedes, who is seeking information about Dantes,

faced with the fact that he is destroying an innocent man's happiness for the sake of his own

ambitions, Villefort is seized with agonizing regret.

And now, Chapter 9, the evening of the betrothal.

Villefort had, as we have said, hastened back to Madame de Saint-Morans in the

Plaza de Grancoeur and on entering the house found that the guests whom he had left at the table

were taking coffee in the salon. René was, with all the rest of the company, anxiously awaiting

him and his entrance was followed by a general exclamation.

Well, decapitator, guardian of the state, royalist, brutus, what is the matter, said one, speak out.

Are we threatened with a fresh reign of terror? asked another.

Has the Corsican ogre broken loose?' cried a third.

"'Marquise,' said Villefort, approaching his future mother-in-law.

"'I request your pardon for thus leaving you.

"'Will the Marquis honor me by a few moments' private conversation?'

"'Ah, is it really a serious matter, then? asked the Marquis, remarking the cloud

on Villefort's brow. So serious that I must take leave of you for a few days. So, added he,

...