Chapter 47 - The Dapple-Greys

Summary

Baron Danglars introduces the Count of Monte Cristo to his wife, Madame Danglars, who is annoyed that Danglars has sold her prized dapple-grey horses; the Count then reveals he had bought them back for a higher price and returned them with diamonds, securing the baroness's favor while frustrating Danglars. The Count subsequently stops a carriage drawn by the same horses from crashing by using his servant Ali's lasso skills, rescuing Madame Héloïse de Villefort and her young son Edouard. After reviving the frightened child with a medicinal drop, the Count arranges for Ali to drive the terrified woman back to her home, after which she writes to Madame Danglars about the event, expressing a desire to see the Count again and arranging a future meeting at Madame Danglars's house, prompting her husband to visit the Count that evening.

Characters

• Count / Monte Cristo (Monsieur le Comte) — The Count is introduced to Madame Danglars, deftly manipulates her favor by buying back and returning her horses with diamonds, and later uses Ali to stop a runaway carriage, rescuing Madame de Villefort and her son from a fatal accident.
• Danglars / Baron (M. Danglars) — Danglars introduces the Count to his wife and boastfully reveals he made a profit on the sale of her horses, only to be left pale and angry when the Count reveals he bought them back and returned them to the baroness.
• Baroness / Madame Danglars / Hermine (Madame, Mme Danglars) — The baroness is initially furious about the loss of her horses but is quickly charmed by the Count's gesture of returning them, leading her to promise to study him at any price and arrange a future meeting.
• Debray / Lucien (Monsieur Debray) — Debray sits with the baroness, conveys the count's price for the horses, and eventually makes an excuse to leave the tense domestic scene between the couple.
• Ali (the Nubian, the Arab) — Ali uses his lassoing prowess to stop the runaway horses in the street, saving the occupants of the carriage, and then drives the terrified Madame de Villefort back to her home.
• Villefort / Héloïse / Madame Héloïse — Madame de Villefort is rescued from a carriage crash by the Count, has her fainting son revived, and writes a letter to her friend expressing her fascination with the Count.
• Edouard (the child, the boy) — Young Edouard faints during the carriage accident and, upon waking, rudely insults Ali for being ugly before being comforted by his mother.