The smuggler who vanished into the rocks returns and gives a silent signal: the group may land. With the sentinel’s “S’accommodi,” an Italian welcome that conveys everything from invitation to honored hospitality, Gaetano brings the boat ashore. Franz disembarks last, his weapons discreetly held by the sailors, his fashionable attire arousing no suspicion. But when they choose a place to set up camp, the sentinel sharply redirects them—hospitality, yes, but on his terms. Led by torchlight, the group walks to a rocky little esplanade carved with rough seats and framed by dwarf oaks and myrtle. There, Franz notices the heavy cinders on the ground: unmistakable signs that this secluded nook has often hosted other illicit visitors to Monte Cristo.

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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.