as that . . .? And she proposes to
send it to my husband? Tell me what happened. Tell me all that
happened.

LORD GORING. Mrs. Cheveley was concealed in a room adjoining my library,
without my knowledge. I thought that the person who was waiting in that
room to see me was yourself. Robert came in unexpectedly. A chair or
something fell in the room. He forced his way in, and he discovered her.
We had a terrible scene. I still thought it was you. He left me in
anger. At the end of everything Mrs. Cheveley got possession of your
letter--she stole it, when or how, I don't know.

LADY CHILTERN. At what hour did this happen?

LORD GORING. At half-past ten. And now I propose that we tell Robert
the whole thing at once.

LADY CHILTERN. [_Looking at him with amazement that is almost terror_.]
You want me to tell Robert that the woman you expected was not Mrs.
Cheveley, but myself? That it was I whom you thought was concealed in a
room in your house, at half-past ten o'clock at night? You want me to
tell him that?

LORD GORING. I think it is better that he should know the exact truth.

LADY CHILTERN. [_Rising_.] Oh, I couldn't, I couldn't!

LORD GORING. May I do it?

LADY CHILTERN. No.

LORD GORING. [_Gravely_.] You are wrong, Lady Chiltern.

LADY CHILTERN. No. The letter must be intercepted. That is all. But
how can I do it? Letters arrive for him every moment of the day. His
secretaries open them and hand them to him. I dare not ask the servants
to bring me his letters. It would be impossible. Oh! why don't you tell
me what to do?

LORD GORING. Pray be calm, Lady Chiltern, and answer the questions I am
going to put to you. You said his secretaries open his letters.

LADY CHILTERN. Yes.

LORD GORING. Who is with him to-day? Mr. Trafford, isn't it?

LADY CHILTERN. No. Mr. Montford, I think.

LORD GORING. You can trust him?

LADY CHILTERN. [_With a gesture of despair_.] Oh! how do I know?

LORD GORING. He would do what you asked him, wouldn't he?

LADY CHILTERN. I think so.

LORD GORING. Your letter was on pink paper. He could recognise it
without reading it, couldn't he? By the colour?

LADY CHILTERN. I suppose so.

LORD GORING. Is he in the house now?

LADY CHILTERN. Yes.

LORD GORING. Then I will go and see him myself, and tell him that a
certain letter, written on pink paper, is to be forwarded to Robert
to-day, and that at all costs it must not