Act 2, Scene 5 Summary

The narrator introduces the next scene, which takes place in a brothel, where Jenny and other prostitutes are waiting for customers. A crook named Jake comments that there's no chance Macheath will show up, but a moment later Macheath appears. When Jake expresses his surprise, Macheath says it's his regular day to visit. Then, he casually tosses the list of crimes shown to him by Polly to the floor. Jenny reads it, and Jake asks whether he's listed on it as well. Macheath tells him that all the members of the gang are on it.

Jenny looks at Macheath's palm and reads his fortune. Macheath asks her to tell him only the good things. Jenny refers to a narrow dark place, a woman's treachery and a name beginning with J. Macheath tells her she's got the name wrong, saying that it...