Faria continues his story, recounting a moment in Renaissance Italy when Pope Alexander VI and Cæsar Borgia sought money — and found it in the ambitions of two powerful men.

In The Count of Monte Cristo, Chapter 18, Cardinal Rospigliosi and Cæsar Spada pay dearly for their red hats, but the scheme doesn’t end there. The pope and his son plan a deadly “final step,” armed with subtle and lethal tools.

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New to the journey? Start from the beginning at: http://countdownofmontecristo.com

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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.