Orgon tells Cleante how worried he is about the box. Orgon reveals that his friend Argas left the box in his care upon his exile and the box contains important documents. Tartuffe convinced Orgon to give him the box so Orgon could keep his “conscience clear” in case he was ever questioned. Cleante’s grim response suggests his disapproval of Orgon’s actions and that Orgon needs to take a calm approach toward Tartuffe at this point. Orgon’s temper flares, as he has no desire to treat Tartuffe calmly and no longer believes in religious people. Cleante lectures that Orgon must not now assume that all pious people are as mischievous as Tartuffe and cautions him to find moderation in his viewpoint of the people he meets.

Damis arrives and is hot-tempered about Tartuffe’s awful behavior against his father’s generosity. He says, “I’ll chop his ears off for him” (145). As with Orgon, Cleante must now remind Damis to approach the situation calmly rather than violently.