How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #10
PEACHUM. But as we want to keep our fingers clean
And you're the people we can't risk offending
We thought we'd better do without this scene
And substitute instead a different ending. (3.9.333-336)
Though the play has been rife with violence, suddenly Peachum declares that they'll spare the audience the violence of a hanging and change the ending. Of course this is ironic, meant to make the audience members think about what they've seen and whether it's something that's natural in humanity or possible to change.