Outside Leonato’s house, Dogberry, a constable, and his partner, Verges, arrive with others to keep watch during the wedding preparations.

Borachio and Conrade emerge from the house onto the street, and the watch hear Borachio discuss the fee he earned from Don John for his trickery. He goes into detail, describing how he courted Margaret while Don John, Don Pedro, and Claudio looked on, mistaking Margaret to be Hero. Claudio believed the ruse and swore to disgrace Hero.

Hearing this confession, the watch arrest the two men.