The Count of Monte Cristo - Chapter 35 — La Mazzolata

Franz and Albert accept the Count of Monte Cristo’s invitation for a morning carriage ride, only to discover he has arranged premium seats to witness a public execution in the Piazza del Popolo. Over breakfast, the Count speaks with unsettling calm about death, justice, and vengeance—revealing a philosophy far darker and more personal than his guests expect.
As they travel toward the square, Franz grows increasingly uneasy, convinced now that Monte Cristo is the mysterious stranger he once saw in disguise. From their rented window, the three men watch the massive Roman crowd gather for Carnival’s grim opening act.
When two condemned men appear—Peppino and Andrea Rondolo—the Count quietly predicts the outcome: one will live, one will die. A last-second papal pardon saves Peppino, but the spared man’s survival drives Andrea into violent madness. The execution that follows is brutal, shocking Franz and Albert to the core. Through it all, the Count remains composed, almost invigorated—his cold fascination with justice laid bare in full daylight.