When Sadhbh and Diarmaid get to their house, the "king's men" have gone. Cormac (the bailif) and his men are in pursuit. Sadhbh is inside, mortified.
Séadna has some of the money the men spent (they bought shoes). It is fake! Sadhbh faints. She's nasty as ever when they help her.
This is a financial disaster to Diarmaid, and for the town. Séadna is silent while they all panic.
Mixed up reports come back about whether they were captured. The townspeople are upset. A big tinker is among them.
Sadhbh is angry with Séadna for not speaking up sooner. Fear an bhraimigh says no fool would marry Sadhbh without a dowery, and she attacks him, tearing off some of his beard!
Séadna let everyone know about how Diarmaid and Sadhbh were swindled before they got to them, and kept the two of them safe from their anger. The girls discuss this.