apostate, who, to protect himself, had Edmond secretly .

             imprisoned in the deepest dungeons of the Chateau D'If. .

             There Dantes' incarceration was secured by the plotting of .

             his enemies outside the prison, particularly towards .

             Villefort, who wished to cover up his own father's .

             connections with the Bonapartists. Dantes suffered for .

             fourteen grueling years. While in prison, he was determined .

             to escape and began digging a tunnel in hopes that it would .

             lead to freedom. During this exercise, he met an elderly .

             inmate named Abbe Faria whose attempt to dig his way to his .

             salvation had led him only to Edmond's cell. The two meet .

             daily and an incredible relationship flourished. The old man .

             taught Edmond history, mathematics, and languages. In .

             Edmond's fourteenth year, Faria became mortally ill. The .

             wise elder told Edmond where to find a massive buried .

             fortune. When Faria finally did die, his body was placed in .

             a burial sac. Edmond seized the opportunity of escaping and .

             replaced Faria's corpse with himself. Jailers threw the sack .

             into the sea which allowed Dantes to escape. He is rescued .

             by a passing ship which gives him a position on the boat. .

             After paying homage for the noble act, Dantes recovered the .

             buried treasure and became extremely wealthy. He returned as .

             the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo and dazzled all of .

             Paris with his extreme wealth and social graces and also he .

             ingeniously managed to be introduced to the cream of French .

             society, among who he goes unrecognized. But, Monte Cristo, .

             in contrariety, recognized all of his enemies, which now are .

             all powerful and influential men. Therefore, he was slowly .

             plotting the ruin of the four men who had caused him to be .

             sent to the Chateau D'If. .

             Ferdinand had married Mercedes and was now the Count .

             de Morcef. Monte Cristo released information to the press .

             that proved that Morcef is a traitor, and Morcef is ruined .