The Count of Monte Cristo

Villefort, confronted with his own guilt, no longer feels he has the right to judge his wife. He hurries home to stop her from acting on his “death sentence.” He arrives too late and finds, to his horror, that his wife has killed their son, Edouard, as well, explaining in a note that “a good mother does not leave without her son” (483). Villefort goes to Noirtier’s room, where he finds Abbé Busoni. Abbé Busoni tells Villefort that he has fulfilled his debt and he will pray that God does not punish Villefort further. Monte Cristo then removes the wig he wears as Busoni and identifies himself as Edmond Dantès.

Villefort forces Monte Cristo to come with him and look at the bodies of Edouard and Mme. Villefort. Monte Cristo, shocked, wonders for the first time if he has gone too far. He carries off Edouard’s body and attempts to revive it, without success. Villefort, ranting incoherently about the loss of his son, starts digging up the garden of his house as he once searched the garden in Auteuil. Monte Cristo, seeing that Villefort has begun acting erratically is overcome by doubt. He tells Maximilien, who is waiting at Monte Cristo’s house, that they are leaving Paris the next day.