The count joins the funeral procession as it nears the cemetery. He is distracted, however, because he does not see Maximilian. A few minutes later, he notices a figure lurking in the shadows among the bushes along the side of the road, and he finally recognizes the figure as Maximilian. The young man stands away from the crowd throughout the ceremony. Afterward, the count follows Maximilian home.

Julie, Maximilian’s sister, greets the count and tells him that her brother is in his study. After hurrying up the stairs, the count sees Maximilian seated at his desk, writing on a piece of paper. Two pistols are near at hand. The count smashes one of the glass panes after finding the door locked and rushes into the room. When he confronts Maximilian, telling him not to act desperately, Maximilian questions why the count would believe that traveling was a desperate act. The guns are for his protection while he is on the road. Finally, the count grabs the letter Maximilian was writing and forces Maximilian to admit that he was contemplating suicide. Maximilian says he has nothing to live for now.

When the count grabs Maximilian’s arms and will not release him, the young man asks what right the count has in directing his life. He tells the count that he has let him down. The count had promised to save Valentine’s life. The count had also ordered Maximilian to stay away from the Villefort house. Maximilian feels that if he had disregarded the count, Valentine would still be alive. He would have protected her.

At this point, the count believes it is time to tell Maximilian how involved he has been in the young man’s life. He confesses to being the Morrel family’s benefactor. It was he who saved the senior Morrel from bankruptcy, he who had saved the senior Morrel’s life, he who purchased the new boat and provided the dowry for Julie.

At this news, Maximilian calls to his sister and both siblings fall to their knees and thank the count. Then the count tells Maximilian not to give up hope. He insinuates that he is strong enough to make miracles happen. He makes Maximilian promise not to take his life—at least for one month. If Maximilian is still as despondent as he is after a month, the count gives him permission to die. The count will even provide guns and poison. Maximilian is afraid to trust the man again, but he agrees to wait one month. At this, the count insists that Maximilian move in with him. Haydee has left, the count tells him; Maximilian can take her room.

The scene changes to a cheap hotel. An unnamed man and woman meet there clandestinely. Although the neighbors gossip about their many meetings, no one knows who they are. The woman arrives with her face covered in a heavy veil. The man has a kerchief tied across much of his face. They are Madame Danglars and her lover, Debray.

At this particular meeting, Madame Danglars shows the note that her husband has left for her. After Debray reads it, she declares that she is free. To this announcement, Debray shows no emotion. He appears unaffected. His tone of voice is very cold toward the woman. Debray only discusses the money they invested together. He calculates the amount of their joint earnings and divides it in half, giving Madame Danglars her share. She leaves without pleading, though it is obvious that she had wanted Debray to offer her more emotionally.

After Madame Danglars leaves, the scene shifts to an upstairs room in the same shabby hotel. In this second room is Mercedes and her son, Albert. They are discussing the turnaround of their lives. They have almost no possessions and very little money. Albert announces that he has enlisted in the army. For this he was given 1,000 francs in advance. He has bought tickets for his mother to go to Marseilles and for him to go to Africa.

Next, the reader is transported to the prison where Andrea is being held. He is still dressed in the finery of his role as a prince, but his clothes are dirty and torn. Some of the other prisoners make fun of him. Andrea tells them that they will see his true worth when someone very special comes to rescue him. Andrea still believes that the count is his father and will buy Andrea’s way out of jail.

Someone does come to visit him, but it is Bertuccio, the man who found him and saved his life when he was a baby. Bertuccio tells Andrea that the count is not his father. When he is about to tell Andrea who his real father is, the guards come in and take Andrea away. It is time for Andrea to face the examining magistrate.

At the Villefort home, Madame de Villefort is finally confronted. Her husband has promised his father that on this day he would accuse his wife and punish her for the murders she has committed. Villefort asks her where she keeps her poisons. Madame de Villefort feigns innocence. She tells her husband she does not understand. Villefort tells her that he, along with others, knows that she has poisoned four people. He then suggests that she mix her strongest potion and take it herself. In this way, she will not bring disgrace on the rest of the family by being tried and put to the guillotine. Again Madame Villefort claims she does not understand what her husband is telling her, so Villefort explains it more precisely. He tells her that he is on his way to Andrea’s trial. When he returns, if he does not find her dead, he will arrest her. After Villefort leaves the room, Madame de Villefort faints.

The crowds are forming in the court as the trial of Andrea is about to get under way. Beauchamp and Debray are talking. Beauchamp, as a reporter, has interviewed Villefort’s servants, who have told him that people have been poisoned in the Villefort house. The servants claim that the murderer is Villefort’s young son, Edward.