Shortly after Benedick leaves them, Don Pedro and Claudio see Dogberry and his watchmen leading the prisoners -- Conrad and Borachio -- to jail. The Prince recognizes the prisoners as men who serve Don John, so Don Pedro asks Dogberry why they are being taken away. Dogberry tries to explain, but he mangles his English so badly that the Prince decides to ask Borachio himself why he is a prisoner. Borachio confesses his guilt:
What your wisdoms could not discover, these shallow fools have brought to light. (217-18)
Even Borachio sees the irony of his situation. His scheme was clever enough to fool the Prince, the Governor, and many others; but the foolish Dogberry and his men discovered the plan and revealed it to all. Thus, not only does the clever Borachio lose the payment for his service to Don John, but he also loses his freedom.