the khan and his warriors return to bakhchisarai palace where he is greeted by zarema, his harem favorite. while zarema, who obviously loves him, is overjoyed at his return, the khan ignores her completely in his preoccupation with maria. he has maria installed in an apartment isolated from the harem and visits her there. laying his heart at her feet he tries to make her love him, but maria is appalled and rejects him. in their brief struggle the khan's hat falls to the floor. the khan returns to the court where zarema tries to win his attention by dancing for him, but he rejects her and she collapses in despair.