Arsinoé immediately tells Célimène that she has come to prove her love and affections for the younger person by telling her all of the gossip that has been circulating about her. She explains that Célimène's conduct is beginning to win a certain amount of notoriety, and that recently in several conversations, she has tried to stand up for Célimène by explaining to others that Célimiène meant no harm in the things she did. However, Arsinoé is finally compelled to admit that Célimène's conduct must be wrong because so many people have criticized it. She concludes by saying that only the purest and best motives cause her to repeat what the various gossips are saying about her.
Célimène wants to repay the "favor," so she proceeds to tell Arsinoé what the town is saying about her. Generally, Célimène says, people think Arsinoé acts too much the part of the prude. She pretends to have virtues which she does not really possess. She makes an "outward show of virtue and modesty" but then paints herself in a disgraceful fashion by her actions. Célimène advises Arsinoé to "meddle less with other people's conduct, and look a bit more closely to your own." She ends by explaining that she has only said these things because of her concern for Arsinoé.
Arsinoé is offended, and reprimands Célimène for being so frank. Célimène, however, maintains that such mutual warnings are good and "dispel that blindness most of us suffer as regards ourselves." She also says that when she is older she will then perhaps become a prude, but "it's not time to be a prude at twenty." Furthermore, she doesn't like to be blamed for all of Arsinoé's disappointments.
Arsinoé maintains that she could have as many admirers as does Célimène if she lowered her standards enough to attract men. Célimène challenges her to do so, and as Alceste arrives at this minute, she excuses herself to go write some letters, thus leaving Alceste to entertain Arsinoé.
