Bawd.

If I could but recover Marina, and make her pliable, I shou'd do very well still: I cou'd make an handsome living of her in any ground in Asia.

Bolt.

Hah, Mother Coupler! How is it with thee, old flesh-monger? thou quondam retailer of stale carrion, and propagator of diseases. What, quite broke! no private practice!—I know you hate to be idle—Though your house is shut up, you have some properties, I hope. Why, you'll make a good stroling bawd still. What never a new vamped up wench, just come out of an hospital, to accommodate a friend with?

Bawd.

Villain, traitor, thief, runaway, how dare you look me in the face?

Bolt.

I am too well acquainted with your face to be afraid of it—ugly as it is.

Bawd.

You have the impudence of old Nick.

Bolt.

Then I did not converse with you so long without learning something.

Bawd.

You seduced my slave.

Bolt.

That's a lye; for she seduced me.

Bawd.

You deserve to be hang'd for robbing me of my property. What have you done with her?

Bolt.

If I had done with her what you wou'd have had me, we shou'd both have been hang'd: So take the matter right, and you are oblig'd to me.

Bawd.

Not at all: For though it happen'd as you say, you intended me no good.

Bolt.

And pray whom did you ever intend any good to?

Bawd.

Where have you put Marina?

Bolt.

No where: She was taken from me before we had gone the length of the street by the Governor's servants.

Bawd.

This is your praying Lord, plague rot him for a cheating hypocrite. And so after all my cost and pains about her to no manner of purpose, he has her for nothing.

Bolt.

No, he has n't her neither.

Bawd.

That's some comfort yet: Then perhaps I may have her again.

Bolt.

When she turns strumpet, and you repent.

Bawd.

Where is she?

Bolt.

Where the air is as disagreeable to a bawd, as the air of a bawdy-house is to her—in the Temple of Diana.

Bawd.

I'm a ruin'd woman.

Bolt.

You can never be long at a loss for a living: It is but removing your quarters, and beginning your trade again where you are n't known—if you can find such a place.

Bawd.

You're a sneering rascal. But I hope you did not let Marina go off with the money the Governor gave her?

Bolt.

No, no, I took care to lighten her of that burthen.

Bawd.

And where is it?

Bolt.

Very safe, very safe.

Bawd.

Why, you don't intend to cheat me of that too?

Bolt.

I don't well understand what you mean by cheating, but am sure I shou'd deceive you most egregiously if I were to part with a single stiver. No, no, I shall take care of my self: I shall keep what I have got, depend upon it.

Bawd.

But what a conscience must you have in the mean time!

Bolt.

Don't you and I know one another, Mother Coupler? Measure my conscience exactly by your own, and you'll find its dimensions to the breadth of a hair.

Bawd.

If I ben't reveng'd, may I die of the pip without the comfort of an hospital to hide my shame and misery from the world.

Bolt.

Or the pleasure of deserving it.