The tale reaches its quiet climax in the dim Pont du Gard inn. The abbé, grave and watchful, speaks of divine justice — of how God’s memory, though slow, never fails. Then, from his pocket, he draws the diamond: a brilliant stone meant for Edmond Dantès’ true friends. “Take it,” he says, placing it before the trembling Caderousse. “There was one friend only. It is yours.”

Caderousse hesitates, half-believing it a cruel jest, until the abbé names his price — the faded red silk purse once left by M. Morrel on old Dantès’ chimney. Reluctantly, Caderousse exchanges it for the jewel. The priest accepts the purse with reverence, the diamond gleaming between them like a test.

To Caderousse, it feels like a miracle; to the abbé, a confirmation — of guilt, of truth, and of judgment still to come. As Caderousse swears his honesty before a crucifix, the priest’s eyes darken. He has heard enough. The reckoning has begun.

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The Countdown of Monte Cristo is a daily podcast reading one page at a time from Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel — every day, for four years. Whether you’re starting from the beginning or joining mid-journey, each episode brings you deeper into the story of The Count of Monte Cristo.