1001 Stories For The Road

The chapter opens with Fernand de Morcerf meeting Danglars at the latter's home. Morcerf is there, finally, to confirm what the two men have discussed between themselves for eight years: that Albert is to marry Eugenie. But Morcerf is shocked to find out from Danglars that the banker is asking for a pause on the betrothal; it seems that Danglars wishes to marry Eugenie to another man. Morcerf is flabbergasted by Danglars' claim and wonders if it has something to do with his daughter (the narrator notes that Morcerf does not consider it might have something to do with him). Morcerf agrees to a deferral of the engagement until Danglars is allowed time to think matters through. Up until this point, Morcerf and Danglars have had an uneasy truce in Parisian society. It is hard to imagine that, many years ago, both these men were involved in a plot against Dantes, back when Danglars was just a ship's manager and Fernand a mere fisherman. Now, both men have their own reputations in Parisian society to protect. Like