Father and Son — The Count of Monte Cristo

Edmond leaves the harbor and runs up four flights of stairs to his father's small room. The old man is training flowers at the window and does not know the Pharaon is back. When Edmond surprises him, his father nearly faints from joy. Edmond talks about Captain Leclère's death and his hope of becoming captain. Then he opens the cupboards and finds almost no food or wine.

His father admits he paid Caderousse one hundred forty francs from the two hundred Edmond left behind. Caderousse had threatened to collect the debt from Morrel if it was not paid, and the old man would rather go hungry than shame his son. His father has lived three months on sixty francs. Edmond empties his pockets onto the table, and the gold from the voyage makes his father smile again.

Caderousse arrives to congratulate him. Edmond mutters that Caderousse's lips say one thing while his heart thinks another. Caderousse sees the coins, and Edmond quickly says the money is his father's. Before leaving, Caderousse warns that Mercédès is a fine girl and fine girls never lack followers. Edmond answers with easy trust and heads for the Catalans. Outside, Caderousse meets Danglars on the street. Danglars says that if they choose, Edmond will stay what he is or become even less. The two men go to La Reserve for wine while Edmond runs toward happiness.