The Count of Monte Cristo

Albert’s Return to Paris

Albert undergoes a transformation in five minutes. His voice roughens, his face becomes furrowed with wrinkles, and burning eyes appear beneath blue-veined lids. He approaches Monte Cristo and thanks him for the hospitality he wishes he could have enjoyed longer, but announces he must return to Paris immediately due to a great misfortune more important than life. He begs the Count not to question him further, only to lend him a horse. Monte Cristo offers alternatives—a post-chaise or carriage—but Albert refuses, insisting the delay would cost precious time and that the fatigue will do him good. He staggers to a chair near the door. The Count calls for Ali to prepare a horse immediately. As Albert prepares to depart, he acknowledges his sudden leaving may seem strange and foolish, then hands Monte Cristo the newspaper and tells him to read it when Albert is gone, so the Count will not witness his anger. Albert throws himself onto his horse and departs with arrow-like speed, spurred on by news that another newspaper has published the truth about his father—Fernand Mondego’s betrayal of Ali Pasha of Yanina. Beauchamp had previously suppressed this revelation, but a malicious source has now exposed the French officer’s treachery in surrendering and selling his benefactor, now revealed as Count de Morcerf, a peer of France.

CAPÍTULO 86. The Trial

Chapter 86, “The Trial,” follows the parliamentary reckoning of Count Morcerf in the House of Peers. It begins with Albert’s dawn visit to Beauchamp to learn who is behind the defamatory article exposing his father’s betrayal of Ali Pasha of Yanina. The chapter then traces the mounting tension in the Chamber, Morcerf’s confident yet unsupported defense, and culminates in the dramatic entrance of Haydée, who reveals herself as Ali Pasha’s daughter and presents documentary evidence of Morcerf’s treachery in selling her and her mother into slavery. In this climactic courtroom scene, Haydée calmly presents a written record from the slave-merchant El-Kobbir detailing how the French colonel Fernand Mondego sold her and her mother to the Sublime Porte after betraying her father, Ali Tepelini, pasha of Yanina. Confronting Morcerf directly, she identifies him as the officer who surrendered the castle, forged the pardon, murdered Selim the fire-keeper, and trafficked her family for gold, exposing the telltale wound on his right hand where the merchant’s coins fell. Overwhelmed by her accusations and unable to mount a defense, Morcerf flees the chamber like a madman, and the committee of inquiry unanimously convicts him of felony, treason, and conduct unbecoming a member of the House, while Haydée withdraws with majestic composure to veil her face and bow to the councillors.

CAPÍTULO 86. The Trial

Chapter 86, “The Trial,” follows the parliamentary reckoning of Count Morcerf in the House of Peers. It begins with Albert’s dawn visit to Beauchamp to learn who is behind the defamatory article exposing his father’s betrayal of Ali Pasha of Yanina. The chapter then traces the mounting tension in the Chamber, Morcerf’s confident yet unsupported defense, and culminates in the dramatic entrance of Haydée, who reveals herself as Ali Pasha’s daughter and presents documentary evidence of Morcerf’s treachery in selling her and her mother into slavery.

Albert Meets with Beauchamp

At eight o’clock in the morning, Albert arrives at Beauchamp’s door. The valet de chambre ushers him in immediately, and he finds Beauchamp in his bath. Trusting in their friendship, Albert asks Beauchamp to disclose what he knows about the source of the “terrible blow” struck against his father, believing Beauchamp too loyal and kind to have spoken of the painful circumstance.

Beauchamp Discloses the Defamatory Article’s Source

Beauchamp explains that the defamatory article had appeared in two papers, including a government organ in addition to L’Impartial. Visiting the editor—a personal friend—he was told the paper had not sought scandal but had been approached the previous day by a man arriving from Yanina with a formidable array of documents. This man threatened to publish elsewhere if they refused, making it clear the attack rested on carefully assembled evidence.