Publisher's Synopsis
Differentiated book- It has a historical context with research of the time-An outbreak of plague in London forces the gentleman Don Agudo to flee temporarily to the countryside, leaving his house in charge of his servant, Jeremiah. He takes advantage of the situation to use the house as a place to commit misdeeds, calling himself "Captain Cara" and using Sutil, a scammer, and Dol Ramplona, a prostitute. His first client is Gallardo, the secretary of a lawyer, who wants Sutil to use his supposed necromantic powers to invoke a spirit that helps him in his bets. The second victim is Droguis, a tobacco seller who wants to start a profitable business. After this, comes a wealthy nobleman, Sir Epicurus Mammon, who wants to get the philosopher's stone for himself because he believes it will bring him great material and spiritual wealth. He is accompanied by Frowning, a skeptic who discredits the idea of alchemy, who suspects that Sutil is a thief.Mammon, by chance, sees Dol for what they say is the insane sister of a nobleman. For his part, Sutil manages to get mad at Ananias, an Anabaptist, and demands that he return with a member of greater rank in his sect, such as Tribulation. Droguis returns and receives false advice about how to set up his business.It also brings the news that a young and rich widow (lady Docil) and her brother Mochete have arrived in London.At that moment, Sutil and Cara, blinded by greed and ambition, go out in their search to win over the widow. Later, the Anabaptists return and agree to pay for the goods, which are actually Mammon's, to turn them into gold. Droguis takes Mochete there, who upon learning that Sutil is a talented matchmaker, rushes to bring his sister; while Droguis is implied that with a good payment he could secure his wedding with the widow. Mammon knows Dol and, although he had been told that she was the sister of a nobleman who had gone crazy, this does not throw him back and, therefore, makes him compliments of the most extravagant.
