The Colonel kicks the Marquise out of his house and forbids her ever to come back, despite her mother's protests. She moves to her deceased husband's estate in V. Meanwhile, the Count returns to M., hears the news of the Marquise's pregnancy, seems unsurprised and tells the Marquise's brother that he is convinced of her innocence. The Marquise's brother speaks ill of his sister and questions the Count's sanity, given the latter's consistent interest in marrying the Marquise. The Count decides to visit her in V. and after being turned away by the porter, sneaks in through the garden and again begs the Marquise to marry him. She runs into the house and locks the door. It is at this point that the Marquise publishes her announcement in the newspaper, asking the father of the unborn child to step forward and reveal his true identity since she is resolved to marry the person who put her in this unique situation. The next day, the newspaper prints another announcement, saying that the father will present himself at the Colonel's house on the 3rd at eleven o’clock. The Colonel is furious, believing that this is a ploy by his daughter to delude them into believing she is innocent. The Colonel's wife, however, goes to visit the Marquise to find out for herself. She tells the Marquise that the father has already revealed himself to her: it is the groom, Leopardo, a servant of the household. When the Marquise seems to accept this for the truth, her mother reveals the trick and says that she now believes the Marquise's innocence. She brings the Marquise back to M. and tells the Colonel to apologise. She leaves the Colonel and the Marquise alone, and when she returns the Marquise is sitting in her father's lap while he is kissing her ardently on the lips "like a lover!" (""wie ein Verliebter!""); the Colonel’s wife is pleased. They eagerly await the arrival of the mysterious father and agree that unless he is too far below her status, that the Marquise should marry him immediately. At the appointed hour, Leopardo walks in... to announce Count F. The Colonel’s wife is satisfied, because she knows that the Count is well-off and of good character from her earlier investigations, but the Marquise herself is visibly upset and says that she was willing to marry "a vicious man" (""einen Lasterhaften"") but not a devil.