Pseudolus overhears Simo and Callipho discuss the rumor going about town that Calidorus is in love and that he’s planning to try to swindle his father out of money to save his girlfriend. Callipho tells Simo it’s not unusual for a young man to want to be with his girlfriend and that if he’s going to object to his son’s behavior, he himself shouldn’t have behaved the same way when he was younger: “A father had better be righteous, if he requires his / Son to be more righteous than he was himself!” (438-39). Pseudolus is frustrated that Simo’s knowledge of his plan presents an unexpected complication.

Noticing Pseudolus, Simo tells Callipho he wants him tortured; Callipho tells him to ask about the rumors. In response to Pseudolus’s witty comments, Simo notes that Pseudolus is “high and mighty” (458); Callipho agrees there is “no lack of confidence” (459). In response to Simo’s questioning, Pseudolus admits that Calidorus is in love and that he himself was going to trick Simo out of money. When Simo asks what he’ll do now that his plan has been thwarted, Pseudolus insists he will still end up taking the money from Simo.