The lonely inn has a familiar master.

In The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 26, we learn that the Pont du Gard Inn is run by none other than Gaspard Caderousse. Once Edmond’s neighbor, he is now an innkeeper brought low by the new canal that diverts travelers and ruins his trade. Dumas sketches him vividly: tall, bony, with dark eyes, hooked nose, and teeth sharp as an animal’s, his skin burned darker still by years of standing hopelessly at the door in search of customers who rarely come. The once-idle tailor of Marseilles is now a man hardened by disappointment and circumstance, but his presence here signals the beginning of Edmond’s next encounter.

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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.