Candide
by Voltaire
Table of Contents
Chapters 26-30
Chapter 26 Summary
One evening in Venice, Martin and Candide dine at their hotel with six strangers.
Cacambo is there as a slave serving one of the other diners. Candide is overjoyed
to see Cacambo but disappointed to learn that Cunegonde is not with him. She
is in Constantinople, where Cacambo promises to take Candide. Their whispered
conversation is cut short as Cacambo must go and serve dinner for his master. During
dinner, it becomes clear that each of the other diners is a European monarch who has
been deposed from the throne. The poorest among them is Theodore, the deposed
King of Corsica. Hearing Theodore’s tale of woe, each of the monarchs give him some
money. Candide gives him the most valuable gift by far, a valuable diamond. The
monarchs wonder at Candide’s generosity, and are surprised to learn that he is not also
a deposed king.
Chapter 27 Summary
Cacambo makes arrangements for Martin and Candide to travel with him and
the former sultan whom he serves back to Constantinople. On the voyage, Cacambo
explains that he was successful in purchasing Cunegonde and the old woman from
Don Fernandes. However, they were all abducted by pirates and sold into slavery.
Cacambo reports that Cunegonde has grown very ugly. The faithful Candide is
disappointed to hear this but, being a man of honor, he intends to marry her anyway.
Candide purchases Cacambo’s freedom from the sultan. On the boat, Candide sees
two miserable galley slaves being beaten. He recognizes the slaves as...
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