_Peachum_. I hear Customers in t’other Room: Go, talk with ’em, _Polly_; but come to us again, as soon as they are gone.—But, hark ye, Child, if ’tis the Gentleman who was here Yesterday about the Repeating Watch; say, you believe we can’t get Intelligence of it ’till to-morrow. For I lent it to _Suky Straddle_, to make a figure with it to-night at a Tavern in _Drury-Lane_. If t’other Gentleman calls for the Silver-hilted Sword; you know _Beetle-brow’d Jemmy_ hath it on, and he doth not come from _Tunbridge_ ’till Tuesday Night; so that it cannot be had ’till then.
_Peachum_. Dear Wife, be a little pacified, Don’t let your Passion run away with your Senses. _Polly_, I grant you, hath done a rash thing.
_Mrs. Peachum_. If she had only an Intrigue with the Fellow, why the very best Families have excus’d and huddled up a Frailty of that sort. ’Tis Marriage, Husband, that makes it a Blemish.
_Peachum_. But Money, Wife, is the true Fuller’s Earth for Reputations, there is not a Spot or a Stain but what it can take out. A rich Rogue now-a-days is fit Company for any Gentleman; and the World, my Dear, hath not such a Contempt for Roguery as you imagine. I tell you, Wife, I can make this Match turn to our Advantage.
_Mrs. Peachum_. I am very sensible, Husband, that Captain _Macheath_ is worth Money, but I am in doubt whether he hath not two or three Wives already, and then if he should die in a Session or two, _Polly’s_ Dower would come into Dispute.
_Peachum_. That, indeed, is a Point which ought to be consider’d.
_A Fox may steal your Hens_, _Sir_, _A Whore your Health and Pence_, _Sir_, _Your Daughter rob your Chest_, _Sir_, _Your Wife may steal your Rest_, _Sir_. _A Thief your Goods and Plate_. _But this is all but picking_, _With Rest_, _Pence_, _Chest and Chicken_; _It ever was decreed_, _Sir_, _If Lawyer’s Hand is fee’d_, _Sir_, _He steals your whole Estate_.
The Lawyers are bitter Enemies to those in our Way. They don’t care that any body should get a clandestine Livelihood but themselves.
_Polly_. ’Twas only _Nimming Ned_. He brought in a Damask Window-Curtain, a Hoop-Petticoat, a pair of Silver Candlesticks, a Periwig, and one Silk Stocking, from the Fire that happen’d last Night.