Edmond Becomes Count

Chapter 10

Shortly after Edmond’s visit to Caderousse, the upper-class society in Paris was delighted to hear that an enormously rich and charming nobleman had settled in their city for a time. Since many titles were bought and not inherited, no one cared that this nobleman’s family had never been heard of before. The Count of Monte Cristo had money and good manners, and Edmond knew these were enough.
After hearing Caderousse’s confession, Edmond had decided to call himself the Count of Monte Cristo. He moved to Paris, sent Jacopo on many errands to gather in­formation and began his war of revenge.
Edmond’s first targets were Danglars and Villefort, co-owners of the largest bank in Paris. Danglars, always shrewd, had made a wartime fortune as a supervisor of supplies for the army. Though it was illegal for him to do so yet he had purchased food and ammunition as a private merchant. Then as head of supplies for the army, he had bought his own goods for the government at an enormous price. He was now among the wealthiest men in Paris, but his passion was still to have more money. Since titles could be bought, he became known as Baron Danglars.
Villefort had become his associate, for he, too, always needed money. His connection with the government brought in international business and secret information. Though rich, Villefort had had some misfortunes per­sonally. His first wife had died. His second wife was highly nervous and terrified of poverty. They had been childless for many years, but now had a son, Edward, for whom both parents would gladly have died.
Villefort had come to the bank especially early one morning because Danglars wanted him to be present when he received the fabulously wealthy Count of Monte Cristo about whom all Paris was buzzing. Exactly on time, the Count was announced and shown in­to Danglar’s elaborate, antique-filled office.
Danglars was disturbed by his first sight of the tall, slender man with a pale, calm face. The Count’s clothes were so fine, yet not showy, that Danglars felt shabby in his own rich garments. He did not like feeling inferior, so he waved the Count in with a casual nod.
“Please come in, sir. No, it’s ‘Count,’ isn’t it? This is my associate, Monsieur Villefort. Sit down here. This chair once belonged to the Emperor of China. Now it belongs only to a baron.” Danglars laughed nervously as he spoke.
Edmond nodded pleasantly to both men and handed Danglars a letter from the most famous bank in Rome, Thomson and French. Edmond had recently bought it but had or­dered the purchase to remain a secret. Danglars read the letter with amazement.
“But it says here I am to give you unlimited credit while you are in Paris!”
“Yes,” said Edmond, “that is the way I usually like things arranged.”
“But unlimited! No, we must settle on a sum beyond which you cannot draw,” decided Danglars, “That is only good business.”
Edmond stood up. “Forgive me. I have been misinformed. I had been told yours was the largest bank in Paris, but I see you cannot meet my requirements.”
Danglars and Villefort exchanged a look of surprise. Danglars said, “Now wait, Count; of course we can come to some agreement. Why don’t we set the amount you can draw on at, say, one million Francs? I’m sure you’ve never had such good treatment at any other place.”
Edmond was laughing. “Excuse my mirth, my dear Baron, but one million is ridiculous. I carry that amount with me all the time just in case I see some trinket I want to carry home with me.” Edmond opened his money case and displayed more than the amount of money he had just claimed.
Danglars stared at it open-mouthed. Villefort left his chair, so he, too, could see. The partners exchanged another quick look, and Danglars said, “You shall have any amount you desire, Count. Any amount!”
“Thank you, Baron Danglars. Also, I may ask you to handle some investments for me from time to time. Perhaps I will buy some cargoes, cashmere or indigo from the East, you know. I will inform you what to buy and, most important, when to sell for me.”

“Our bank is at your service,” said Danglars and Villefort, almost together. The idea had come to them both at the same time that they could use the Count’s instructions to invest on their own behalf.
From then on, there was constant com­munication between Danglars’ and Villefort’s bank and the Count of Monte Cristo. Funds poured out of the bank for Edmond’s new house, his carriage and matched grey horses, his large staff of servants, his entertainments, and his antiques and paintings.
Along with this activity Edmond sent a stream of orders to invest in numerous cargoes from all over the world. Danglars did as or­dered, and each time he and Villefort invested some of their own money in the cargoes too. The first four investments returned such handsome profits that they were angry with themselves for not having risked more money.
Soon both men had invested all their available money and were using the bank’s assets for themselves. They had no fears of a loss.
When Edmond judged that Danglars and Villefort had overextended themselves financially, he came himself to the bank to order yet another investment this time in a diamond mine. Edmond ordered three times his usual number of shares.
Danglars was amazed. “Dear Count,” he said respectfully, “this must be a very im­portant investment, since you have come in person to order it.”
Edmond nodded solemnly and said, “It will make all my other investments seem unimportant. I expect to make huge sums.”
As soon as Edmond left, Danglars signed notes for credit on all his belongings, including his four houses, his wife’s inheritance, his daughter’s dowry, and all their jewellery. Villefort, aware of his wife’s intense desire to have great wealth, hesitated.

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