The old sailor, Penelon, shifts his tobacco and begins his tale — rough, vivid, and steady as the sea itself.

Even now, the room seems to tighten with his words. The sailors nod; they remember. The storm had come fast — a wall of black rolling across the horizon, the wind rising like cannon fire. Orders flew: take in the studding-sails, stow the flying jib, lower the mainsail. Within minutes, the Pharaon was straining under a sky turned violent.

But the captain knew his work, and the crew obeyed, reefing sails and bracing for the storm. The memory fills the silent room — thunder in the walls, salt in the air — as the Pharaon’s last voyage comes to life once more.

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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.