Edmond uses Faria’s knife to cut himself free from the shroud and the canon ball and manages to swim to a deserted island, despite an approaching storm. Later that night, he sees a small fishing vessel wrecked by the storm. The next day, Edmond realizes that once Faria’s body is discovered in Edmond’s bed, the authorities will realize he has escaped and launch a search. Edmond spots a ship from Genoa and decides to swim out to it, passing himself off as a sailor from the wrecked fishing vessel. He almost drowns in the attempt but is rescued and revived by the Genoese crew.

Edmond, speaking Italian, claims to be a sailor from Malta. He asks the year, claiming amnesia from the wreck, and learns that it is 1829. Edmond has been a prisoner for 14 years, and is now 33 years old. He wonders what has become of Mercédès, and repeats his oath of vengeance against Danglars, Fernand, and Villefort. When the ship docks in Italy, Edmond has a barber cut off his long hair and shave his beard. Looking at himself in a mirror again, he realizes that his face has changed so much with age and misfortune that he will be unrecognizable to anyone who knew him before.