MABEL CHILTERN. [_Looking up at him_.] But you never have been refused yet by anybody, have you, Arthur? I can’t imagine any one refusing you. LORD GORING. [_After kissing her again_.] Of course I’m not nearly good enough for you, Mabel. MABEL CHILTERN. [_Nestling close to him_.] I am so glad, darling. I was afraid you were. LORD GORING. [_After some hesitation_.] And I’m . . . I’m a little over thirty. MABEL CHILTERN. Dear, you look weeks younger than that. LORD GORING. [_Enthusiastically_.] How sweet of you to say so! . . . And it is only fair to tell you frankly that I am fearfully extravagant. MABEL CHILTERN. But so am I, Arthur. So we’re sure to agree. And now I must go and see Gertrude. LORD GORING. Must you really? [_Kisses her_.] MABEL CHILTERN. Yes. LORD GORING. Then do tell her I want to talk to her particularly. I have been waiting here all the morning to see either her or Robert. MABEL CHILTERN. Do you mean to say you didn’t come here expressly to propose to me? LORD GORING. [_Triumphantly_.] No; that was a flash of genius. MABEL CHILTERN. Your first. LORD GORING. [_With determination_.] My last. MABEL CHILTERN. I am delighted to hear it. Now don’t stir. I’ll be back in five minutes. And don’t fall into any temptations while I am away. LORD GORING. Dear Mabel, while you are away, there are none. It makes me horribly dependent on you. [_Enter_ LADY CHILTERN.] LADY CHILTERN. Good morning, dear! How pretty you are looking! MABEL CHILTERN. How pale you are looking, Gertrude! It is most becoming! LADY CHILTERN. Good morning, Lord Goring! LORD GORING. [_Bowing_.] Good morning, Lady Chiltern! MABEL CHILTERN. [_Aside to_ LORD GORING.] I shall be in the conservatory under the second palm tree on the left. LORD GORING. Second on the left? MABEL CHILTERN. [_With a look of mock surprise_.] Yes; the usual palm tree. [_Blows a kiss to him_, _unobserved by_ LADY CHILTERN, _and goes out_.] LORD GORING. Lady Chiltern, I have a certain amount of very good news to tell you. Mrs. Cheveley gave me up Robert’s letter last night, and I burned it. Robert is safe. LADY CHILTERN. [_Sinking on the sofa_.] Safe! Oh! I am so glad of that. What a good friend you are to him—to us! LORD GORING. There is only one person now that could be said to be in any danger. LADY CHILTERN. Who is that? LORD GORING. [_Sitting down beside her_.] Yourself. LADY CHILTERN. I? In danger? What do you mean? LORD GORING. Danger is too great a word. It is a word I should not have used. But I admit I have something to tell you that may distress you, that terribly distresses me. Yesterday evening you wrote me a very beautiful, womanly letter, asking me for my help. You wrote to me as one of your oldest friends, one of your husband’s oldest friends. Mrs. Cheveley stole that letter from my rooms. LADY CHILTERN. Well, what use is it to her? Why should she not have it?