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The Count of Monte Cristo

by Alexandre Dumas père

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Chapters 80-84 Summary

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Villefort is obviously disturbed when Doctor d’Avigny reports his suspicions of who poisoned Noitier’s servant. The doctor even tells Villefort that he believes his father-in-law and mother-in-law (the Saint-Merans) were also poisoned. The doctor assumes only person with a motive to be rid of the Saint-Merans is Valentine, and he declares her the killer. She was in line to inherit large sums of money from them upon their deaths. The doctor also assumes that Noirtier was the target for the poisoned lemonade, which his servant ultimately drank. The doctor points out that Valentine would also benefit from Noirtier’s death. Even though Noirtier did consume some of the lemonade, the doctor explains that it had no effect on the old man because the had been treating the old man with a few drops of the same poison each day as a potential cure for his paralysis. Having taken this daily dosage, Noirtier was immune to the fatal effects.

Villefort begs the doctor not to make his conclusions public. He asks the doctor to allow him to take care of the matter. It would kill him, Villefort states, if he had to prosecute his own daughter. The doctor reluctantly agrees, but he tells Villefort to never call on him again for medical service. The doctor refuses to ever take one step into Villefort’s house again.

In the meantime, Andrea visits with Danglars and declares his intentions to marry Eugenie. After discussing how much money Andrea will bring to the marriage, Danglars is very excited about the prospect. After his meeting with Danglars, Andrea goes home to find a letter written to him by Caderousse, who insists that Andrea meet him the next morning.

When Andrea goes to Caderousse’s house for breakfast, the old man demands that Andrea give him more money than they had agreed on before. Caderousse asks the boy how much money he is receiving from his benefactor, and Andrea tells him. After receiving this new information, Caderousse promises to go away and leave the boy alone if he gives him even more money in one lump sum rather than paying him every month.

As their conversation continues, Caderousse asks more pertinent questions. In the process, Andrea admits that the count is supporting him. Andrea believes the count is hiding from him the fact that he is his true father. Andrea also tells Caderousse that the count has told him that when he dies, Andrea will inherit a lot of money.

Caderousse asks Andrea the exact address of the count’s city house, and Andrea provides it. Caderousse tells Andrea that he wishes he had been invited to the count’s home and pretends to take an interest in what the house looks like inside, so Andrea draws a floor plan of the interior and explains what each of the rooms is like and what might be found in them.

Later that day, the count receives an anonymous letter, tipping him off to the plan of a stranger who intends to rob his house. The count had just arrived at his country home. He gives orders to his servants to leave the city house. Then the count takes Ali back with him and they wait in the dark of the city house for the attempted burglary.

After several hours go by, a dark figure enters the count’s house. The count dons his abbey’s disguise and confronts the burglar, who turns out to be Caderousse. The old man attempts to stab the count, but the count protected himself from such an attack by wearing a protective vest under his garments. Caderousse begs the abbey to let him go, and he does. However, outside the house, Caderousse is attacked. He receives several fatal blows. Before he dies, Caderousse identifies his attacker as Benedetto (Andrea). Right before Caderousse dies, the count reveals his true identity, telling Caderousse that he is Edmund Dantes. Immediately after Caderousse dies, the count murmurs, “One,” supposedly referring to the death of the first of his enemies.

With Villefort’s orders, the Parisian police search for Benedetto. He cannot be found. No one but the count knows that Benedetto is, in fact, Andrea. Meanwhile, Andrea tells Danglars that his father has written to him, telling him that upon his marriage to Eugenie, he will receive three million francs. Andrea also tells Danglars that he will give this money to Danglars to invest for him.

In another part of the city, Beauchamp (the reporter) visits Albert. Beauchamp has just returned from a three-week trip. He has been to Yanina and found proof that the French man who betrayed Ali Tepelini was indeed Albert’s father. Of course Albert is devastated by this news. He no longer wants to duel with Beauchamp; it is no longer necessary. But Albert begs Beauchamp to destroy the evidence to protect his family’s name. Beauchamp gives him the papers that prove Albert’s father’s guilt and tells him to do with what he wants with the evidence. Albert tears the papers into tiny pieces and burns them. Then Albert decides to go to the count for advice on what to do next.

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Chapters 85-89 Summary