Albert learns that it was Danglars who uncovered the damning information from Greece about his father’s past. He confronts Danglars and challenges him to a duel, including Andrea/Benedetto, who is visiting Danglars, in his challenge. Danglars says he was merely acting on the advice of the Count of Monte Cristo and that Albert’s quarrel is therefore with Monte Cristo.

Albert is stunned by Danglars’s accusations against Monte Cristo but realizes they must be true. As it was Monte Cristo who purchased Haydée’s freedom, he must always have known the details of her story. The fact that Monte Cristo took Albert to Normandy just as the news was about to break also suggests his involvement. Albert vows to discover the truth.

Albert learns that Monte Cristo has returned to Paris and will be attending the opera that evening. In the meantime, Albert asks his mother, Mercédès, if there is any reason that Monte Cristo would consider Morcerf an enemy, unwittingly tipping her off to the truth of what is happening. She asks one of her servants to follow him.

At the opera, Albert confronts Monte Cristo, provoking him to a duel, and Monte Cristo agrees to fight him the next morning.