Albert and Beauchamp go and visit the Count, because the Count is good friends with everybody, right? Now Albert can breathe easier because all the evidence was burnt. He needs a rest, so the Count invites him to go on a vacay to Normandy with him.

Albert and the Count enjoy their idyllic time hunting and fishing for 3 days. By evening, Albert is exhausted, but his servant, Florentin rides up on a horse. Urgent matters! He delivers a letter from Beauchamp. Albert reads it, and the newspaper and looks totally devastated. He must return home immediately. The article there mentions Janina again, and this time, it calls out "Fernand" as being the Count de Morcerf.

Now it's time for Fernand to pay the piper! He walks into the Chamber of Peers, arrogantly and totally unaware of the new crisis unfolding. They hit up Fernand with "Janina" and "Col. Fernand Mondego", and talk about opening an investigation into these crimes. A commission is formed, and Fernand does pretty well in convincing them that he was loyal to Ali Pasha. He shows them letters and the Pasha's signet ring, something that proves great trust. The Pasha entrusted him to care for his royal wife and daughter too, Fernand claims. But in the chaos of the failed rebellion, the women "disappeared". It all sounds plausible, and Fernand is almost exonerated, but the president receives a note. A witness to Janina's fall wishes to testify and is waiting right outside.

The commission agrees to hear the witness, and in strides Haydee! The moment she's been waiting for since she was a child! She calmly states her identity and provides papers to prove her identity. Then she lets it rip! She points the Finger of Doom at Fernand and tells the commission all about the betrayal of her father and how he had sold her and her mother into slavery. Her identity papers also confirm these facts. She is asked, "Are you sure this is him?" and she points out a scar on his right hand, which Fernand quickly hides. He can no longer deny anything, tears open his coat, leaves the chamber and rides away in his carriage. The commission declares Fernand guilty and Haydee bows and takes her leave, striding out like a queen.

Albert can't do a thing!!! Well, except go and look for some revenge against the stoolie that leaked the story. Beauchamp says that Danglars was in Janina, so Albert barges into the Danglars residence, uninvited and challenges Danglars to a duel. Danglars explains- he was sniffing around about Janina because the Count of Monte Cristo had suggested it. It hits Albert like a ton of bricks- all those little unconnected events that now add up. Danglars is happy to escort Albert and Beauchamp out of his house.

Discussion points:

1. Chapter 85 starts off rather slowly, and everything looks dandy. But a newspaper article ruins the lives of all the Morcerfs. Was this twist, right at this time a surprise?
2. Fernand's old crimes are finally dug up and the skeleton in his closet is brought into the light. What do you think will happen to Fernand now? He was found guilty at an inquiry, but this is not actually a formal trial with a judge, defense attorney and prosecutor. No sentence has been passed. Will Fernand get hauled to a real trial next? Will he flee France and dump Mercedes and Albert? Will he lose his title, his rank and his membership in the House of Peers? Will he get sent to Chateau D'if?
3. Albert's response is sadly predictable. Another duel! Seems that whenever uncomfortable truths hit him in the face, a duel is his FIRST resort! What do you think of him? Will his fondness for flinging out challenges to duels catch up with him? What's next, challenging the Count to a duel?
4. What SHOULD Albert do? Accept the truth and try and show dignity and a stiff upper lip and try to weather this storm (with his mother) as best as he can?
5. Did you notice how the Count had been absent from all this, off in Normandy while the Fernand domino fell over? He didn't tell Haydee to do anything- she took the initiative on her own. Good idea? So he can have plausible deniability on his part, and she can feel that she made her choice and she was the one who destroyed Fernand on her own?