4. Monte Cristo brought Maximilian near death before re-introducing him to Valentine because he wanted to test his devotion. Monte Cristo wanted to know if he was truly devoted to Valentine, and even offered to trade his whole fortune for Maximilian to live. In order for Monte Cristo to test his resolve, he must've been put in a state of deep despair. This idea was further explained in one of his final quotes.
"There is no such thing as happiness or unhappiness in the world, he explains, but only the comparison of one state with another. Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss. It is necessary to have wished for death, Maximilian, in order to know how good it is to live." (Dumas, 531)
5. Monte Cristo was a deeply religious man that believed everything done was out of God's will. Knowing this, I think the quote means that only God and fate can tell you what will happen, so we should just wait and hope that what happens is a good thing. God is who would decide whether a good or bad thing will occur to you. Also, karma may be an important theme. The targets were evil and greedy, and decided to get ride of Edmond for their own desires, and they were eventually punished.
