Sir Robert Chiltern I owe you much. And now tell me what you were going to ask me just now as Lord Caversham came in.

Lord Goring Robert, you are your sister’s guardian,° and I want your consent to my marriage with her. That is all.

Lady Chiltern Oh, I am so glad! I am so glad!

Shakes hands with Lord Goring

Lord Goring Thank you, Lady Chiltern.

Sir Robert Chiltern (with a troubled look) My sister to be your wife?

Lord Goring Yes.

Sir Robert Chiltern (speaking with great firmness). Arthur, I am very sorry, but the thing is quite out of the question. I have to think of Mabel’s future happiness. And I don’t think her happiness would be safe in your hands. And I cannot have her sacrificed!

Lord Goring Sacrificed!

Sir Robert Chiltern Yes, utterly sacrificed. Loveless marriages are horrible. But there is one thing worse than an absolutely loveless marriage. A marriage in which there is love, but on one side only; faith, but on one side only; devotion, but on one side only, and in which of the two hearts one is sure to be broken.

Lord Goring But I love Mabel. No other woman has any place in my life.

Lady Chiltern Robert, if they love each other, why should they not be married?

Sir Robert Chiltern Arthur cannot bring Mabel the love that she deserves.

Lord Goring What reason have you for saying that?

[A pause]

Sir Robert Chiltern Do you really require me to tell you?

Lord Goring Certainly I do.

Sir Robert Chiltern As you choose. When I called on you yesterday evening I found Mrs Cheveley concealed in your rooms. It was between ten and eleven o’clock at night. I do not wish to say anything more. Your relations with Mrs Cheveley have, as I said to you last night, nothing whatsoever to do with me. I know you were engaged to be married to her once. The fascination she exercised over you then seems to have returned. You spoke to me last night of her as of a woman pure and stainless, a woman whom you respected and honoured. That may be so. But I cannot give my sister’s life into your hands. It would be wrong of me. It would be unjust, infamously unjust to her.

Lord Goring I have nothing more to say.

Lady Chiltern Robert, it was not Mrs Cheveley whom Lord Goring expected last night.

Sir Robert Chiltern Not Mrs Cheveley! Who was it then?

Lord Goring Lady Chiltern!