Madame Flirt: A Romance of 'The Beggar's Opera'

"IF YOUR NAME ISN'T POLLY IT OUGHT TO BE" "As pretty a wench as man ever clapped eyes on. Wake up, Lance, and look at her." The portly man of genial aspect sitting in the corner ...

"GO YOUR OWN WAY YOU UNGRATEFUL MINX" The mob roared approval at the prospect of a fight, and though the combatants were unfairly matched some of the ruffians urged the girl to re...

"OH, MISTRESS MINE, WHERE ART THOU ROAMING?" "Lavina! Have done!" It was a whispered entreaty. The victim of the feather of a quill pen tickling her neck dared not raise her voic...

"IF WE'RE NOT TO BE MARRIED TELL ME" The rattle of the wheels over the loose, roughly laid cobble stones, and the swaying carriage hung on leathers, forbade talking. Lavinia heard...

"MANY A MAN WOULD GIVE A HANDFUL OF GUINEAS FOR A KISS FROM SALLY SALISBURY" The fugitive found himself in a narrow ill-smelling, vilely paved alley to the east of the Borough. Ta...

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER A London night in the first quarter of the eighteenth century had very little rest. Until long past midnight a noisy, lawless, drunken rabble made the streets ...

"I WISH I WERE A RICH LADY FOR YOUR SAKE" Lavina awoke to find Hannah in the room. The maid had brought in a cup of chocolate and something to eat. "I'm a dreadful sight, Hannah,...

"YOU'VE A MIGHTY COAXING TONGUE" The shop on London Bridge of Dr. Mountchance, apothecary, astrologer, dealer in curios and sometimes money lender and usurer, was in its way pictu...

"YOU WERE BRAVE AND FOUGHT FOR ME" Meanwhile Lavinia was hastening to Grub Street. On her way she bought a pair of shoes which if not quite in the _mode_ were at least fellows. Sh...

IN THE CHAPTER COFFEE HOUSE It was nearly six o'clock when Lavinia stood on the broad steps of Queensberry House behind Burlington Gardens. Now that she was staring at the big doo...

made their names, and struggling scribblers hanging on to the skirts of the muses. The air was close. Inside the revellers may have found it insufferable. The door was suddenly op...

LAVINIA'S PILGRIMAGE It was past nine when Lavinia turned into the Old Bailey. The chief trade done by the coffee house was in the early morning. After market hours there were few...

"ARE WORDS THE ONLY SIGNS OF LOVE?" Lavinia easily found her way to Pope's villa. The first man of whom she inquired knew the house well and guided her to it. The house was somew...

"I'M FIXED ON POLLY PEACHUM" Lavinia saw she had nearly conquered and cried:--"Let me untie the knot. I was sure you would not say no." Gay was like wax in her hands. He permitte...

"I WISH YOU GOOD NIGHT AND MORE SENSE" Lavinia and her protector set out. Stephen was inclined to be garrulous and Lavinia had not much occasion to put in a word. He entertained h...

"A MAN SHOULD FIGHT HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD" Vane left alone, strolled onward moodily, his eyes bent on the ground. "In love, as I ought to be, said that scoundrel," he was mut...

"THEY'RE TO MEET AT ROSAMOND'S POND" A masquerade was in full swing at a mansion in Leicester Square. The air of the ball-room was hot and stuffy. Ventilation was a thing of littl...

"THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS OF MAKING LOVE" Rofflash was right. He _had_ seen Lavinia enter the Old Bailey coffee house. Hannah was sitting up expecting her--she had arranged as much ...

"SOME DAY YOU'LL BE THE TALK OF THE TOWN" As the two paced up and down in front of the playhouse Lavinia told the actor the whole story. Spiller smiled indulgently at the love por...

AT ROSAMUND'S POND In the course of the day Lavinia made the acquaintance of Mrs. Egleton. The landlady had told the actress how Spiller had brought Lavinia and how the latter was...

"WHAT DID I TELL THEE, POLLY?" Lavinia went to her first rehearsal in a strange confusion of spirits, but came through the ordeal successfully. She was letter perfect, and she rem...

"IF WE FIGHT.... WHAT SAY YOU TO LAVINIA FENTON?" The big room of the "Angel and Sun" hard by Cripples Gate was the scene of loud talk, louder laughter and the clank of pewter mug...

"MOLL'S SINGIN' BROUGHT HER LUCK AND MAY BE YOURS WILL TOO" The months went over. Huddy's "travelling" theatrical troupe had been paying a round of visits to various towns in the ...

"HALF LONDON WILL BE CALLING YOU POLLY" And so it came about. Lavinia was sent for by Mr. Palmer, and she sang to him. He was highly pleased with her voice, but he was afraid her ...

"FOR THE SECOND TIME VANE HAD RISKED HIS LIFE FOR HER" Lavinia stopped and turned, not completely round but half way. She was in a flutter, though outwardly calm. She made no atte...

"MR. RICH HAS GIVEN ME AN ENGAGEMENT" Lavinia slept late and was only aroused by Betty hammering at her door. "Get up--get up, Miss Lavvy. A fine gentleman's a-waiting to see 'ee...

"POLLY IS TO BE MY NAME FOR EVER AFTER" The new year brought the first rehearsal of "The Beggar's Opera." Hippisley with his rich, unctuous humour was Peachum, and not less well s...

THE CURTAIN FALLS Before the week was out the only topic in which the town took any interest was "The Beggar's Opera," and the "all Conquering Polly," as an advertisement setting ...