Franz returns to the grotto determined to test whether the marvels of the night can withstand daylight and reason. What he finds instead is resistance—silent, unyielding, and absolute.

In this passage of The Count of Monte Cristo, Franz explores the subterranean grotto with torch in hand, retracing the place of his awakening and probing every inch of the granite walls for a hidden entrance. Despite hours of careful searching—and evidence that others have tried before him—no fissure yields, no secret passage reveals itself. Even as the yacht carrying Sinbad fades to a distant speck on the horizon, the mystery remains sealed.

This moment matters because it confirms the island’s defiance of logic: the splendor Franz experienced is real, yet unreachable. Though he resumes his hunting, his thoughts are no longer with the goats he kills, but with the irresistible pull of the grotto—and the sense that he has briefly lived inside a waking legend.

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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.

If you enjoy this show, be sure to check out Odyssey: A Daily Odyssey through Homer's The Odyssey — wherever you listen to podcasts!