of the public placard.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Stop! You want me to withdraw the report and to
make a short speech stating that I believe there are possibilities in the
scheme?

MRS. CHEVELEY. [_Sitting down on the sofa_.] Those are my terms.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_In a low voice_.] I will give you any sum of
money you want.

MRS. CHEVELEY. Even you are not rich enough, Sir Robert, to buy back
your past. No man is.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I will not do what you ask me. I will not.

MRS. CHEVELEY. You have to. If you don't . . . [_Rises from the sofa_.]

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_Bewildered and unnerved_.] Wait a moment! What
did you propose? You said that you would give me back my letter, didn't
you?

MRS. CHEVELEY. Yes. That is agreed. I will be in the Ladies' Gallery
to-morrow night at half-past eleven. If by that time--and you will have
had heaps of opportunity--you have made an announcement to the House in
the terms I wish, I shall hand you back your letter with the prettiest
thanks, and the best, or at any rate the most suitable, compliment I can
think of. I intend to play quite fairly with you. One should always
play fairly . . . when one has the winning cards. The Baron taught me
that . . . amongst other things.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. You must let me have time to consider your
proposal.

MRS. CHEVELEY. No; you must settle now!

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Give me a week--three days!

MRS. CHEVELEY. Impossible! I have got to telegraph to Vienna to-night.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. My God! what brought you into my life?

MRS. CHEVELEY. Circumstances. [_Moves towards the door_.]

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Don't go. I consent. The report shall be
withdrawn. I will arrange for a question to be put to me on the subject.

MRS. CHEVELEY. Thank you. I knew we should come to an amicable
agreement. I understood your nature from the first. I analysed you,
though you did not adore me. And now you can get my carriage for me, Sir
Robert. I see the people coming up from supper, and Englishmen always
get romantic after a meal, and that bores me dreadfully. [_Exit_ SIR
ROBERT CHILTERN.]

[_Enter Guests_, LADY CHILTERN, LADY MARKBY, LORD CAVERSHAM, LADY
BASILDON, MRS. MARCHMONT, VICOMTE DE NANJAC, MR. MONTFORD.]

LADY MARKBY. Well, dear Mrs. Cheveley, I hope you have enjoyed yourself.
Sir Robert is very entertaining, is he not?

MRS. CHEVELEY. Most entertaining! I have enjoyed my talk w