RICHARD Rachel, just a moment. If you want a mirror, you shall have the prettiest one in New England. Or I will import you one from London. Only—I beg of you—don’t buy stolen goods.
GOODY RICKBY Stolen goods?
RACHEL [Aside to Richard.] Don’t! don’t!
RICHARD At least, articles under suspicion. [To Goody Rickby.] Can you account for this mirror—how you came by it?
GOODY RICKBY I’ll show ye! I’ll show ye! Stolen—ha!
RICHARD Come, old swindler, keep your mirror, and give this lady back her money.
GOODY RICKBY I’ll damn ye both, I will!—Stolen!
RACHEL [Imploringly.] Will you come?
RICHARD Look you, old Rickby; this is not the first time. Charm all the broomsticks in town, if you like; bewitch all the tables and saucepans and mirrors you please; but gull no more money out of young girls. Mind you! We’re not so enterprising in this town as at Salem; but—it may come to it! So look sharp! I’m not blind to what’s going on here.
GOODY RICKBY Not blind, Master Puritan? Oho! You can see through all my counterfeits, can ye? So! you would scrape all the wonder out’n the world, as I’ve scraped all the meat out’n my punkin-head yonder! Aha! wait and see! Afore sundown, I’ll send ye a nut to crack, shall make your orthodox jaws ache. Your servant, Master Deuteronomy!