After imprisoning Edmond Dantès to protect his political future and conceal his father’s ties to Bonapartists, Villefort rushes back to the Saint-Mérans and secretly prepares for a career-making trip to Paris. Mercédès desperately seeks answers but is turned away. Villefort briefly feels crushing guilt yet chooses ambition over justice. Meanwhile, Morrel fails to help, Danglars celebrates, Fernand waits beside Mercédès, and old Dantès suffers in helpless fear.