In Act 2, Scene 1, a servant named Fag foreshadows the fact that all of the characters’ lies throughout the play will eventually be found out, hinting at the discomfort that inevitably follows any revelation of deception:
And in tenderness to my character, if your honour could bring in the chairmen and waiters, I shall esteem it as an obligation; for though I never scruple a lie to serve my master, yet it hurts one’s conscience, to be found out.
The short quip Fag makes in the quote above speaks to one of the larger themes in the play— that sometimes lying may achieve one’s ends, but the means can often result in uncomfortable situations and even cause some pain. Fag’s objection is, notably, not to the prospect of lying itself, but rather to the feelings he will experience upon being found out. The servant’s concern for his conscience is more jarring for the fact that Absolute himself does not see anything wrong with making Fag complicit in his deception of his father. By giving this short mention of morality to a servant rather than the protagonist, Sheridan signals that Absolute still has a journey of growth to complete as he discovers the value of truth and honesty in building lasting relationships.
