RN. [_Frowning_.] Ah! yes. I remember hearing, at the
time of his death, that he had been mixed up in the whole affair.

MRS. CHEVELEY. It was his last romance. His last but one, to do him
justice.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_Rising_.] But you have not seen my Corots yet.
They are in the music-room. Corots seem to go with music, don't they?
May I show them to you?

MRS. CHEVELEY. [_Shaking her head_.] I am not in a mood to-night for
silver twilights, or rose-pink dawns. I want to talk business.
[_Motions to him with her fan to sit down again beside her_.]

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I fear I have no advice to give you, Mrs. Cheveley,
except to interest yourself in something less dangerous. The success of
the Canal depends, of course, on the attitude of England, and I am going
to lay the report of the Commissioners before the House to-morrow night.

MRS. CHEVELEY. That you must not do. In your own interests, Sir Robert,
to say nothing of mine, you must not do that.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_Looking at her in wonder_.] In my own interests?
My dear Mrs. Cheveley, what do you mean? [_Sits down beside her_.]

MRS. CHEVELEY. Sir Robert, I will be quite frank with you. I want you
to withdraw the report that you had intended to lay before the House, on
the ground that you have reasons to believe that the Commissioners have
been prejudiced or misinformed, or something. Then I want you to say a
few words to the effect that the Government is going to reconsider the
question, and that you have reason to believe that the Canal, if
completed, will be of great international value. You know the sort of
things ministers say in cases of this kind. A few ordinary platitudes
will do. In modern life nothing produces such an effect as a good
platitude. It makes the whole world kin. Will you do that for me?

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Mrs. Cheveley, you cannot be serious in making me
such a proposition!

MRS. CHEVELEY. I am quite serious.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_Coldly_.] Pray allow me to believe that you are
not.

MRS. CHEVELEY. [_Speaking with great deliberation and emphasis_.] Ah!
but I am. And if you do what I ask you, I . . . will pay you very
handsomely!

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Pay me!

MRS. CHEVELEY. Yes.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I am afraid I don't quite understand what you mean.

MRS. CHEVELEY. [_Leaning back on the sofa and looking at him_.] How
very disappointing! And I have come all the way from V