She Stoops to Conquer

Hastings informs Constance that everything is ready for their departure and that Marlow is keeping track of the jewels since he has the keys to their luggage. He has learned that Sir Charles Marlow is coming soon, following his son, and so Hastings needs to leave before he is recognized. Constance decides to go and play a prank on her aunt while they wait where she will confess her love for Tony Lumpkin.

However, when Hastings asks Marlow where he put the jewels, Marlow tells him that he gave them to the “landlady” for safekeeping. Hastings realizes that Mrs. Hardcastle now has the jewels again and thinks that their disappearance was a mistake by the servants, but he tries not to show his distress to keep up the joke. Marlow mentions his attraction to the “bar maid”—actually Kate Hardcastle—and claims that he intends to sleep with her.

Mr. Hardcastle confronts Marlow about his bad behavior, complaining that all of his servants are drunk. Marlow protests that he told his servants to get as drunk as possible, believing that the landlord of an inn would want him to pay for a lot of food and drink.