Mr. Poole, the author of this very successful comedy, tells us that the idea of the character of Paul Pry was suggested by the following anecdote, related to him many years before he wrote the piece by a beloved friend.
An idle old lady, living in a narrow street, had passed so much of her time in watching the affairs of her neighbours, that she at length acquired the power of distinguishing the sound of every knocker within hearing. It happened that she fell ill, and was for several days confined to her bed. Unable to observe in person what was going on without, she stationed her maid at the window as a substitute for the performance of that duty. But Betty soon grew weary of the occupation; she became careless in her reports—impertinent and tetchy when reprimanded for her negligence.
"Betty, what are you thinking about? Don't you hear a double knock at No. 9? Who is it?"
"The first-floor lodger, ma'am."
"Betty! Betty! I declare I must give you warning. Why don't you tell me what that knock is at No. 54?"
"Why, Lord! ma'am, it is only the baker with pies."
"Pies, Betty! what can they want with pies at 54?—they had pies yesterday!"
"Of this very point," says Mr. Poole, "I have availed myself. Let me add, that Paul Pry was never intended as the representative of any one individual, but a class. Like the melancholy of Jaques, he is 'compounded of many simples,' and I could mention five or six who were unconscious contributors to the character. Though it should have been so often, but erroneously, supposed to have been drawn after some particular person, is, perhaps, complimentary to the general truth of the delineation.
"With respect to the play generally, I may say that it is original: it is original in structure, plot, character, and dialogue—such as they are—the only imitation I am aware of is to be found in part of the business in which Mrs. Subtle is engaged; whilst writing those scenes I had strongly in my recollection Le Vieux Célibataire. But even the title I have adopted is considerably altered and modified by the necessity of adapting it to the exigencies of a different plot."