King. No, nothing else.
Edith. Papa, don’t believe them, they are pirates—the famous Pirates of Penzance!
Gen. The Pirates of Penzance? I have often heard of them.
Mab. All except this gentleman—(indicating Frederick)—who was a pirate once, but who is out of his indentures to-day, and who means to lead a blameless life evermore.
Gen. But wait a bit. I object to pirates as sons-in-law.
King. We object to major-generals as fathers-in-law. But we waive that point. We do not press it. We look over it.
Gen. (aside). Hah! an idea! (Aloud.) And do you mean to say that you would deliberately rob me of these the sole remaining props of my old age, and leave me to go through the remainder of life unfriended, unprotected, and alone?
King. Well, yes, that’s the idea.
Gen. Tell me, have you ever known what it is to be an orphan?
Pirates (disgusted). Oh, dash it all!