The scene changes to another betrothal celebration, this time between two young people of the aristocracy. Renee de Saint-Meran is to be married to Gerard de Villefort, a lawyer and assistant to the crown prosecutor. The people at this party are all royalists, meaning they are faithful to King Louis XVIII, who is sitting on the throne. Royalists are enemies to Napoleon and his supporters. Even though Napoleon has been exiled from France, the country has not yet established political harmony. This is especially true in Marseilles, where royalists fear Napoleon’s spies are plotting the emperor’s return.

Gerard Villefort claims to be a staunch royalist. However, his background is slightly marred because his father was once a Bonapartist. In the current climate of political unrest, Villefort is determined to prove his support of the king. He is young and ambitious. At his engagement party, a close associate of the king’s tells Villefort that the king has recently praised him, stating that he believes Villefort has a bright future in his royal service. This inspires Villefort to exclaim that he cannot wait to have a conspirator he might bring to court so he can prove his worthiness to the French monarch.

Only minutes after having made this statement, news is brought to Villefort that a spy has been discovered. Villefort is handed the letter Danglars wrote to incriminate Dantes. Villefort excuses himself from the party and leaves to meet with the prisoner.

Villefort confronts Dantes, who has been brought to Villefort’s house by a police guard. Villefort excuses the guard and interrogates Dantes alone. When Villefort asks him questions about his political background, Dantes says he is too young to have yet established any thoughts on the topic. Dantes says he has only three interests in life. They are the ship he is about to command, his father, and his betrothed, Mercedes.

While Dantes speaks, Villefort feels empathy for the young man. In some ways, they are linked. They are both on the brink of great happiness and success. Both are about to be married and reap the benefits of promotion. So Villefort asks Dante to tell him exactly what happened on his recent voyage and how he came upon the package that now lays on Villefort’s desk.

After Dantes explains that he went to Elba to serve out his captain’s death wish, Dantes tells Villefort that he was given a letter deliver in Paris. Villefort believes Dantes story and insinuates that he will be shortly released. Villefort has concluded that Dantes is not guilty of espionage. But before he releases him, Villefort asks where the letter is. Dantes points to Villefort’s desk and tells him the letter is in the package. As Villefort opens the package, he asks to whom the letter is addressed. Dantes replies that it is to a man named Noirtier. At this, Villefort’s face turns white, and he collapses into his chair. His attitude toward Dantes changes. Dantes grows concerned. Villefort asks if Dantes has read the letter; Dantes has not. Villefort burns the letter and tells Dantes to deny it ever existed.

After telling Dantes that he cannot yet release him, Villefort tells his guards to take Dantes away. Alone, Villefort bemoans the fact that his father still haunts him. This he says in reference to the information that was contained in the letter he burnt. No further explanation is provided.

Dantes is taken from the jail and walked under guard to a boat. He asks where they are taking him, but no one will answer until they are out to sea. They are heading for the Chateau D’If, a prison. Nothing is explained to Dantes, who, upon arrival at the prison, continually insists on seeing the governor in command of the prison. Dantes is told he will eventually see the governor, but it might take a year. When he responds bitterly, Dantes is taken deeper, into the bowels of the prison to a dungeon.

Villefort, meanwhile, returns to his betrothal party and talks with Renee’s father, the Marquis, telling him to cash in all his investments immediately or he will lose all he is worth. Villefort does not explain himself. He also asks that the Marquis write a letter to the king so he can gain an audience without delay, as he is about to leave for Paris. Without confiding any more details about what he is doing, he bids farewell to Renee and leaves.

Mercedes tried to learn about the whereabouts of Dantes from Villefort before he left but was unsuccessful. Morrel attempted to find someone influential to help gain Dantes’s release, but no one would come to his aid. Fernand and Danglars are the only ones who have found something positive in the removal of Dantes from Marseilles.

The scene changes to the king’s chambers in Paris. King Louis XVIII is listening to warnings given by the Duke de Blacas of a storm brewing in southern France, insinuating that Bonapartists might be gaining strength. The king is unbothered by the Duke’s concerns. Baron Dandre, the minister of police, appears and at the king’s request confirms that Napoleon is ailing and possibly losing his mind on Elba. There is nothing to worry about, the Baron says.

Shortly afterward, Villefort arrives and warns the king that not only is Napoleon in good health but he has escaped from Elba and might soon be arriving on French soil. The king wants to know how Villefort attained this information. Villefort lies, telling him that a man he has suspected for a long time, a rebellious Bonapartist, was in possession of such news; Villefort was able to extract it from him. Now that traitor is in jail.