- Lussurioso is glad to be free, but he's not so happy with Hippolito—he complains that the man Hippolito hired (Vindice) hasn't been such a great employee. Lussurioso complains that Vindice misled him, which caused him to be caught accidentally assaulting the Duke (on the assumption that he was Spurio, sharing the Duchess's bed unlawfully). This almost caused Lussurioso's death, so he's not too happy with the disguised Vindice.
- Just as Hippolito is apologizing, Vindice shows up. Lussurioso tries to snub him, and when Vindice keeps talking to him, Lussurioso threatens him. Vindice leaves Hippolito to talk to Lussurioso.
- Lussurioso brings up the topic of Hippolito's brother, and asks why he never turns up at court. Then he says that maybe Hippolito's brother will be able to do the kinds of jobs that the man he's just turned away can't. The irony is laid on pretty thick here, because of course Lussurioso just sent the real Vindice away. But since Lussurioso is a character in revenge tragedy, we can't blame him too much for failing to figure these things out—after all, Vindice was in disguise.
- Hippolito says that his brother will come to see Lussurioso, though he warns, "But he's a man in whom much melancholy dwells" (4.1.62).
- Hippolito decides to present Vindice, this time as himself. The irony may be lost on Lussurioso, but not on Hippolito, who exclaims, "How strangely does himself [Lussurioso] work to undo him" (4.1.68).
- Just to make it all a little more ironic, Lussurioso decides that he'll have Vindice kill that other guy who got him in trouble (a.k.a. Vindice in disguise).
- In case there wasn't enough irony going around, a few nobles turn up now and ask Lussurioso where his father, a.k.a. the Duke, is. Of course they don't know that Vindice and Hippolito have just killed him. If irony is like gathering clouds, we've got one amazing summer storm coming up—though maybe monsoon would be a better word…
- Somebody thinks the Duke rode out privately, and Lussurioso says that he does do that kind of thing sometimes. Just for good measure, Lussurioso says that what would appear light or frivolous in a younger man (riding away from court with no notice) seems virtuous in his father. Since his father went out to seduce a young woman, this is kind of the last straw of irony in this scene. Do you hear that thunder?