This can be seen during his conversation with Beatrice, after everyone hears about Hero's "infidelity". In this scene, as Don John and Claudio leave, Benedick does not follow them. Instead, he stays with Beatrice. His action in this scene is very critical, because it shows that he considers his love for Beatrice more important than his allegiance to his brothers, Don John and Claudio. This action is something Benedick never thought he would do from the beginning. While at first Benedick's allegiance remained rooted in her brothers, she has now pledged allegiance to her lover, Beatrice. In this scene, Benedick seems to have grown as a person. Instead of losing all confidence due to unproven rumors like those of Don Pedro and Claudio, he is able to confront the situation in a more substantial way. He proves himself again during his conversation with Béatrice. In telling Benedick to “kill Claudio” (Shakespeare 4.1.288), “Beatrice asks of her new lover the greatest favor: to place his love for her above his long-standing friendship with Claudio. The order shows that Beatrice and Benedick are now more serious than they were. Rather than joking about serious problems as they did at the beginning of the play, they now deal with them” (Smith 182). Although a little reluctant at first, Benedick decides to follow his lover's orders and challenges Claudio to a duel. From now on, all of Benedick belongs to Beatrice, because “love is her compass” (Horowitz 50). For Benedick, “Love is immediately the basis of the decision about life itself…. [and] Benedick’s love for Beatrice must determine his [decisions]” (Horowitz 49). The fact that Benedick decided to challenge his long-time friend Claudio once again proves how much he has changed as a person. For Benedick, Béatrice has now become more important than her peers.