e_.] Arthur, do
you despise me for what I have told you?

LORD GORING. [_With deep feeling in his voice_.] I am very sorry for
you, Robert, very sorry indeed.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I don't say that I suffered any remorse. I didn't.
Not remorse in the ordinary, rather silly sense of the word. But I have
paid conscience money many times. I had a wild hope that I might disarm
destiny. The sum Baron Arnheim gave me I have distributed twice over in
public charities since then.

LORD GORING. [_Looking up_.] In public charities? Dear me! what a lot
of harm you must have done, Robert!

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Oh, don't say that, Arthur; don't talk like that!

LORD GORING. Never mind what I say, Robert! I am always saying what I
shouldn't say. In fact, I usually say what I really think. A great
mistake nowadays. It makes one so liable to be misunderstood. As
regards this dreadful business, I will help you in whatever way I can.
Of course you know that.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Thank you, Arthur, thank you. But what is to be
done? What can be done?

LORD GORING. [_Leaning back with his hands in his pockets_.] Well, the
English can't stand a man who is always saying he is in the right, but
they are very fond of a man who admits that he has been in the wrong. It
is one of the best things in them. However, in your case, Robert, a
confession would not do. The money, if you will allow me to say so, is
. . . awkward. Besides, if you did make a clean breast of the whole
affair, you would never be able to talk morality again. And in England a
man who can't talk morality twice a week to a large, popular, immoral
audience is quite over as a serious politician. There would be nothing
left for him as a profession except Botany or the Church. A confession
would be of no use. It would ruin you.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. It would ruin me. Arthur, the only thing for me to
do now is to fight the thing out.

LORD GORING. [_Rising from his chair_.] I was waiting for you to say
that, Robert. It is the only thing to do now. And you must begin by
telling your wife the whole story.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. That I will not do.

LORD GORING. Robert, believe me, you are wrong.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. I couldn't do it. It would kill her love for me.
And now about this woman, this Mrs. Cheveley. How can I defend myself
against her? You knew her before, Arthur, apparently.

LORD GORING. Yes.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN