Gerardine disguises himself as a porter so no one will know that he has not gone to sea. He meets Dryfat in the street, reveals his true identity, and lays out the details of a scheme to force Glister to relinquish his hold on Maria. According to his plan, he will pose as an apparitor (a summoner for the ecclesiastical court) and Dryfat will pose as an attorney. Thus disguised, they will stage a phony trial where Glister will be accused of getting Maria pregnant. Dryfat agrees to participate in the scheme.