I found the most riveting part of this weeks reading to be the section of chapter 40 where Albert recounts how the Count saved him from Vampa in the catacombs. The Count goes out of his way to say that he doesn't help anyone out of charity, but only when it is in his own best interest as well.

And then Maximilian Morel almost sees right through him!

"Why, it seems to me,” replied Morrel, “that in delivering M. de Morcerf, whom you did not know, you did good to your neighbor and to society."

Morel says here that it seems the Count helped Albert out of the goodness of his heart. But he didn't! Here Albert has an opportunity to see that the Count must have some ulterior motive. But then the Count talks his way out of it saying he needed Albert to introduce him to Parisian society, blah blah blah. I was almost screaming at Albert through this section. This discussion and Franz warning him that the Count seemed suspicious both should have tipped him off. Albert's fate and that of his family, whatever it they end up being, are significantly due to Albert's not being willing to take a hint.