Was Captain Macheath here this Morning for the Bank-Notes
he left with you last Week?
MRS. PEACHUM. Yes, my Dear; and though the Bank hath stopt Payment, he
was so cheerful and so agreeable! Sure there is not a finer Gentleman upon
the Road than the Captain! If he comes from Bagshot at any reasonable
Hour, he hath promis'd to make one this Evening with Polly and me, and Bob
Booty at a party of Quadrille. Pray, my dear, is the Captain rich?
PEACHUM. The Captain keeps too good Company ever to grow rich.
Mary-bone and the Chocolate-houses are his undoing. The Man that
proposes to get Money by Play should have the Education of a fine
Gentleman, and be train'd up to it from his Youth.
MRS. PEACHUM. Really, I am sorry upon Polly's Account the Captain hath
not more Discretion. What Business hath he to keep Company with Lords and
Gentlemen? he should leave them to prey upon one another.
PEACHUM. Upon Polly's Account! What a plague does the Woman mean?---Upon
Polly's Account!
MRS. PEACHUM. Captain Macheath is very fond of the Girl.
PEACHUM. And what then?
MRS. PEACHUM. If I have any Skill in the Ways of Women, I am sure Polly
thinks him a very pretty Man.
PEACHUM. And what then? You would not be so mad as to have the Wench
marry him! Gamesters and Highwaymen are generally very good to their
Whores, but they are very Devils to their Wives.
MRS. PEACHUM. But if Polly should be in Love, how should we help her, or
how can she help herself? Poor Girl, I am in the utmost Concern about her.
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