ith him
immensely.

LADY MARKBY. He has had a very interesting and brilliant career. And he
has married a most admirable wife. Lady Chiltern is a woman of the very
highest principles, I am glad to say. I am a little too old now, myself,
to trouble about setting a good example, but I always admire people who
do. And Lady Chiltern has a very ennobling effect on life, though her
dinner-parties are rather dull sometimes. But one can't have everything,
can one? And now I must go, dear. Shall I call for you to-morrow?

MRS. CHEVELEY. Thanks.

LADY MARKBY. We might drive in the Park at five. Everything looks so
fresh in the Park now!

MRS. CHEVELEY. Except the people!

LADY MARKBY. Perhaps the people are a little jaded. I have often
observed that the Season as it goes on produces a kind of softening of
the brain. However, I think anything is better than high intellectual
pressure. That is the most unbecoming thing there is. It makes the
noses of the young girls so particularly large. And there is nothing so
difficult to marry as a large nose; men don't like them. Good-night,
dear! [_To_ LADY CHILTERN.] Good-night, Gertrude! [_Goes out on_ LORD
CAVERSHAM'S _arm_.]

MRS. CHEVELEY. What a charming house you have, Lady Chiltern! I have
spent a delightful evening. It has been so interesting getting to know
your husband.

LADY CHILTERN. Why did you wish to meet my husband, Mrs. Cheveley?

MRS. CHEVELEY. Oh, I will tell you. I wanted to interest him in this
Argentine Canal scheme, of which I dare say you have heard. And I found
him most susceptible,--susceptible to reason, I mean. A rare thing in a
man. I converted him in ten minutes. He is going to make a speech in
the House to-morrow night in favour of the idea. We must go to the
Ladies' Gallery and hear him! It will be a great occasion!

LADY CHILTERN. There must be some mistake. That scheme could never have
my husband's support.

MRS. CHEVELEY. Oh, I assure you it's all settled. I don't regret my
tedious journey from Vienna now. It has been a great success. But, of
course, for the next twenty-four hours the whole thing is a dead secret.

LADY CHILTERN. [_Gently_.] A secret? Between whom?

MRS. CHEVELEY. [_With a flash of amusement in her eyes_.] Between your
husband and myself.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_Entering_.] Your carriage is here, Mrs.
Cheveley!

MRS. CHEVELEY. Thanks! Good evening, Lady Chiltern! Good-night