Monte Cristo meets with a middle-aged man he identifies as the Marquis Bartolomeo Cavalcanti. The course of their interview makes clear that Monte Cristo is in fact coaching the man on a false identity Monte Cristo has paid him to assume. The biography of the “Marquis” establishes him as a member of a rich and noble Italian family, an ex-major in the Austrian army who hopes to be reunited with his lost son Andrea, the product of an early and secret marriage to a noblewoman who has since died. Monte Cristo coaches the Marquis on how to dress in Parisian society, explains that he has provided him with a uniform and medals, and presents him with documents proving that his early marriage was valid and that Andrea is therefore his legitimate heir.

Monte Cristo then introduces the man to his “son,” Viscount Andrea Cavalcanti, who is waiting in the next room. The young man playing Andrea Cavalcanti has already memorized his assumed biography, but he reacts with real fear when Monte Cristo says his father is present. Monte Cristo secretly observes the “reunion” of father and son. Andrea admires the quality of the forged documents v has provided, then presses Major Cavalcanti for details of how much Monte Cristo is paying him to play Andrea’s father.