Editing Edmond Dantès (section)

=== Paris and the Count ===
Edmond emerges into Parisian society as the mysterious and sophisticated Count of Monte Cristo. Having purchased the deed to the island from whence he obtained his treasure, Edmond is able to place himself in the upper strata of Parisian society and assume the role of one of the most influential men in all of France. As such, he is introduced to several other powerful men, most notably Danglars, who is now a wealthy [[banker]]; Mondego, who is now Count de Morcerf and a military hero; and M. Villefort, who is now the ''[[Prosecutor|procureur du roi]]'', one of the most powerful lawyers in the country.  Furthermore, Mondego has married Mercédès, and the two have a son named Albert. Having established himself in Parisian society, and having distanced himself from Edmond Dantès, the Count is able to formulate his plans of revenge against the men who betrayed him. By the end of the novel, Edmond had exacted his revenge on all of the men who would have seen him rot in prison. He exposes crimes committed by Villefort and Mondego, ruining their respective reputations and bringing the police down upon them; Villefort goes [[insane]], and Mondego commits suicide. He arranges for Danglars to be temporarily captured by the Italian bandit Luigi Vampa, made to understand Edmond's suffering, and stripped of all of his wealth. Edmond, at the end of the novel, departs with his ward Haydée (previously enslaved by Mondego and liberated by Edmond), leaving with words of wisdom: "to wait and hope".