Sartorius reveals that Trench's income depends on interest from mortgaged tenements, and is therefore as "dirty" as his own; but the lovers do not reconcile.

In Act III, Trench, Cokane and Lickcheese return to Sartorius' house to plan a shady business venture.

Trench, disillusioned and coarsened by knowing his income is tainted by its source, no longer takes the moral high ground.

For ye devour widows’houses…] The play should be called „Witwen Hauser" or „Weh euch, ihr Heuchler", or something else out of the Bible.

They were termed "unpleasant" because they were intended, not to entertain their audiences – as traditional Victorian theatre was expected to – but to raise awareness of social problems and to censure exploitation of the labouring class by the unproductive rich.

It was performed in New York City at Theatre Row in March 2016 in a production with The Actors Company Theater and Gingold Theatrical Group.