“If he is sad, he wants money,” says Don Pedro and Benedick winces at being so easily found out but does not deny it; he’s been bored almost to tears by the endless talk of wedding preparations and would do anything for a diversion.

Unfortunately one comes in the form of the prince’s brother with the news that Hero has been disloyal; Claudio refuses to believe it until he’s seen it, but even after they’ve been shown two silhouettes at a windowsill, Benedick remains doubtful.

“Still, what good will it do to shame her publicly?” he asks one more time, but Claudio is firm in his course, so Benedick once more curses the fickleness of love and resolves to speak with the girl’s father in time to halt this marriage so it won’t be destroyed before it’s even begun.