LORD WINDERMERE. Have you said good-night to my wife? [_Comes C._] MRS. ERLYNNE. [_Crushing letter in her hand_.] Yes. LORD WINDERMERE. Where is she? MRS. ERLYNNE. She is very tired. She has gone to bed. She said she had a headache. LORD WINDERMERE. I must go to her. You’ll excuse me? MRS. ERLYNNE. [_Rising hurriedly_.] Oh, no! It’s nothing serious. She’s only very tired, that is all. Besides, there are people still in the supper-room. She wants you to make her apologies to them. She said she didn’t wish to be disturbed. [_Drops letter_.] She asked me to tell you! LORD WINDERMERE. [_Picks up letter_.] You have dropped something. MRS. ERLYNNE. Oh yes, thank you, that is mine. [_Puts out her hand to take it_.] LORD WINDERMERE. [_Still looking at letter_.] But it’s my wife’s handwriting, isn’t it? MRS. ERLYNNE. [_Takes the letter quickly_.] Yes, it’s—an address. Will you ask them to call my carriage, please? LORD WINDERMERE. Certainly. [_Goes L. and Exit_.] MRS. ERLYNNE. Thanks! What can I do? What can I do? I feel a passion awakening within me that I never felt before. What can it mean? The daughter must not be like the mother—that would be terrible. How can I save her? How can I save my child? A moment may ruin a life. Who knows that better than I? Windermere must be got out of the house; that is absolutely necessary. [_Goes L._] But how shall I do it? It must be done somehow. Ah! [_Enter_ LORD AUGUSTUS _R.U.E. carrying bouquet_.] LORD AUGUSTUS. Dear lady, I am in such suspense! May I not have an answer to my request? MRS. ERLYNNE. Lord Augustus, listen to me. You are to take Lord Windermere down to your club at once, and keep him there as long as possible. You understand? LORD AUGUSTUS. But you said you wished me to keep early hours! MRS. ERLYNNE. [_Nervously_.] Do what I tell you. Do what I tell you. LORD AUGUSTUS. And my reward? MRS. ERLYNNE. Your reward? Your reward? Oh! ask me that to-morrow. But don’t let Windermere out of your sight to-night. If you do I will never forgive you. I will never speak to you again. I’ll have nothing to do with you. Remember you are to keep Windermere at your club, and don’t let him come back to-night. [_Exit L._] LORD AUGUSTUS. Well, really, I might be her husband already. Positively I might. [_Follows her in a bewildered manner_.] * * * * * ACT DROP. THIRD ACT SCENE _Lord Darlington’s Rooms_. _A large sofa is in front of fireplace R._ _At the back of the stage a curtain is drawn across the window_. _Doors L. and R._ _Table R. with writing materials. Table C. with syphons, glasses, and Tantalus frame_. _Table L. with cigar and cigarette box. Lamps lit_.