Mrs Cheveley I have not got it with me. I will give it to you tomorrow.

Lord Goring You know you are lying. Give it to me at once. (Mrs Cheveley pulls the letter out, and hands it to him. She is horribly pale) This is it?

Mrs Cheveley (in a hoarse voice) Yes.

Lord Goring (takes the letter, examines it, sighs, and burns it over the lamp)° For so well-dressed a woman, Mrs Cheveley, you have moments of admirable common sense. I congratulate you.

Mrs Cheveley (catches sight of Lady Chiltern’s letter, the cover of which is just showing from under the blotting-book) Please get me a glass of water.

Lord Goring Certainly.

Goes to the corner of the room and pours out a glass of water. While his back is turned Mrs Cheveley steals Lady Chiltern’s letter. When Lord Goring returns with the glass she refuses it with a gesture

Mrs Cheveley Thank you. Will you help me on with my cloak?

Lord Goring With pleasure.

Puts her cloak on

Mrs Cheveley Thanks. I am never going to try to harm Robert Chiltern again.

Lord Goring Fortunately you have not the chance, Mrs Cheveley.

Mrs Cheveley Well, even if I had the chance, I wouldn’t. On the contrary, I am going to render him a great service.

Lord Goring I am charmed to hear it. It is a reformation.

Mrs Cheveley Yes. I can’t bear so upright a gentleman, so honourable an English gentleman, being so shamefully deceived, and so—

Lord Goring Well?

Mrs Cheveley I find that somehow Gertrude Chiltern’s dying speech and confession has strayed into my pocket.

Lord Goring What do you mean?

Mrs Cheveley (with a bitter note of triumph in her voice) I mean that I am going to send Robert Chiltern the love letter his wife wrote to you tonight.

Lord Goring Love letter?

Mrs Cheveley (laughing) ‘I want you. I trust you, I am coming to you. Gertrude.’

Lord Goring rushes to the bureau and takes up the envelope, finds it empty, and turns round

Lord Goring You wretched woman, must you always be thieving? Give me back that letter. I’ll take it from you by force. You shall not leave my room till I have got it.

He rushes towards her, but Mrs Cheveley at once puts her hand on the electric bell that is on the table. The bell sounds with shrill reverberations,° and Phipps enters. [A pause]