In this episode of The Countdown of Monte Cristo, King Louis XVIII and his ministers convince themselves that Napoleon is not just contained, but collapsing. With talk of skin rashes, insanity, and idle stone-skipping, they turn a looming threat into farce. But readers know better—and Dumas makes sure we feel the irony.

As the court trades insight for intellectual games, the reality brewing outside their palace walls goes unheeded. The calm before the storm has never sounded more smug.

Key Events:

•Minister of Police M. Dandré delivers a report claiming Napoleon is unstable and irrelevant

•Louis XVIII mocks Bonaparte’s health and hobbies, referencing Virgil’s “bella, horrida bella”

•Reports from Elba are dismissed as laughable distractions

•The ruling elite mistakes rumor and ridicule for reassurance

•The myth of Napoleon is reduced to scratching and stone-skipping—at their peril

🔍 SEO Keywords:

The Count of Monte Cristo podcast, Napoleon on Elba, Chapter 10 Dumas analysis, bella horrida bella quote, Louis XVIII satire, Dandré character podcast, French monarchy downfall, Restoration propaganda Napoleon, Alexandre Dumas political humor, Virgil references in literature

📚 Subscribe for bonus episodes and full-length story-only audio at patreon.com/gruntworkpod