LADY CHILTERN. [_With a cry of pain_.] Oh! you have saved his life; what have you done with mine? [_Enter_ SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. _He has the letter in his hand_, _and is reading it_. _He comes towards his wife_, _not noticing_ LORD GORING’S _presence_.] SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. ‘I want you. I trust you. I am coming to you. Gertrude.’ Oh, my love! Is this true? Do you indeed trust me, and want me? If so, it was for me to come to you, not for you to write of coming to me. This letter of yours, Gertrude, makes me feel that nothing that the world may do can hurt me now. You want me, Gertrude? [LORD GORING, _unseen by_ SIR ROBERT CHILTERN, _makes an imploring sign to_ LADY CHILTERN _to accept the situation and_ SIR ROBERT’S _error_.] LADY CHILTERN. Yes. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. You trust me, Gertrude? LADY CHILTERN. Yes. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Ah! why did you not add you loved me? LADY CHILTERN. [_Taking his hand_.] Because I loved you. [LORD GORING _passes into the conservatory_.] SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [_Kisses her_.] Gertrude, you don’t know what I feel. When Montford passed me your letter across the table—he had opened it by mistake, I suppose, without looking at the handwriting on the envelope—and I read it—oh! I did not care what disgrace or punishment was in store for me, I only thought you loved me still. LADY CHILTERN. There is no disgrace in store for you, nor any public shame. Mrs. Cheveley has handed over to Lord Goring the document that was in her possession, and he has destroyed it. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Are you sure of this, Gertrude? LADY CHILTERN. Yes; Lord Goring has just told me. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Then I am safe! Oh! what a wonderful thing to be safe! For two days I have been in terror. I am safe now. How did Arthur destroy my letter? Tell me. LADY CHILTERN. He burned it. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I wish I had seen that one sin of my youth burning to ashes. How many men there are in modern life who would like to see their past burning to white ashes before them! Is Arthur still here? LADY CHILTERN. Yes; he is in the conservatory. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I am so glad now I made that speech last night in the House, so glad. I made it thinking that public disgrace might be the result. But it has not been so. LADY CHILTERN. Public honour has been the result. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I think so. I fear so, almost. For although I am safe from detection, although every proof against me is destroyed, I suppose, Gertrude . . . I suppose I should retire from public life? [_He looks anxiously at his wife_.] LADY CHILTERN. [_Eagerly_.] Oh yes, Robert, you should do that. It is your duty to do that. SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. It is much to surrender. LADY CHILTERN. No; it will be much to gain. [SIR ROBERT CHILTERN _walks up and down the room with a troubled expression_. _Then comes over to his wife_, _and puts his hand on her shoulder_.]