The crux in A 'Cure for a Cuckold': A cryptic message, a doubtful intention, and two dearest friends

In A Cure for a Cuckold, by John Webster, William Rowley and (probably) Tho mas Heywood, the reaction of rivals Bonvile and Lessingham to Clare's riddl ing letter has, to previous editors and commentators, appeared to require t extual emendation to avoid plot impossibilities on the one hand or characte r implausibilities on the other. Close examination of text, plot, and motiv ation demonstrates that the dramaturgy is coherent, and any difficulties in interpretation result not from textual corruption but from plot artifice t aking precedence over character consistency.