Panza tells everyone that Quixote is to blame for the escaped prisoners. Quixote dismisses his accusation, claiming his knightly duty involves helping anyone in need. To distract Quixote, Dorotea explains the problem with the giant in her kingdom. Quixote listens and swears he will stay with her until she is returned to her rightful throne. However, he warns, she will not be able to marry him once he is successful because his heart belongs to Dulcinea. Panza is infuriated by this declaration, as Quixote potentially forsaking a kingdom will force them to continue as poor wanderers. He insists the disguised Dorotea is twice as beautiful as Dulcinea and that it would be outrageous for Quixote to not accept the supposed-princess’s proposal. Quixote does not respond well. He hits Panza and hurls insults at him. Dorotea calms the situation. When he has a moment of privacy, Quixote asks Panza how Dulcinea responded to his love letter. Panza confesses that he did not manage to deliver the letter but claims to have shared what he could remember of its contents with a priest, who wrote everything down. They are distracted by the arrival of Gines de Pasamonte, who is still riding Panza’s donkey.