Franz finally samples the famed hashish, finding its taste far less divine than promised. Sinbad laughs off his reaction, claiming that true appreciation comes only with time—just as oysters, tea, or truffles once seemed strange before becoming delicacies. With that, he invites Franz into the adjoining room for coffee and pipes. Franz enters a new chamber more extraordinary than the last: a circular apartment entirely draped in sumptuous animal skins. Lion pelts from Atlas, Bengal tiger hides, Cape panther skins, Siberian bear and Norwegian fox—layered so richly that the floor feels like moss and the divan like a bed of down. Surrounded by this exotic extravagance, Franz steps deeper into the dreamlike world his host has constructed.

New to the journey? Start from the beginning at: http://countdownofmontecristo.com

Want to talk theories, themes, or betrayals? Join the conversation on our Discord: https://discord.gg/Sg2prdm

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Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or follow along on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf3vyewhvQugX5M3oREl57A

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!