1. Many characters in TCoMC must navigate split identities (e.g., Dantès/the count, Benedetto/Andrea). Here, Villefort believes that he can separate his identity as a judge from his identity as a husband, but this is the second time he’s allowed a family connection to get in the way of his office; is this a warning sign about the difficultly of maintaining a split identity or a welcome sign of Villefort’s humanity?

2. In cliffhanger fashion, Villefort locks his wife inside her apartments, locking the reader in there with her; do you find yourself wanting her to figure out a means of escape?

Final sentence of chapter:

“The crown prosecutor left the room and, after doing so, double-locked the door.”

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