A to Z Classics - Complete Works Of Oscar Wilde (Best Navigation) (A to Z Classics)

lord goring

A diamond snake-brooch with a ruby?

mrs. cheveley

Yes. How do you know?

lord goring

Because it is found. In point of fact, I found it myself, and stupidly forgot to tell the butler anything about it as I was leaving. [ Goes over to the writing-table and pulls out the drawers .] It is in this drawer. No, that one. This is the brooch, isn’t it? [ Holds up the brooch .]

mrs. cheveley

Yes. I am so glad to get it back. It was … a present.

lord goring

Won’t you wear it?

mrs. cheveley

Certainly, if you pin it in. [ Lord Goring suddenly clasps it on her arm .] Why do you put it on as a bracelet? I never knew it could be worn as a bracelet.

·162· lord goring

Really?

mrs. cheveley

[ Holding out her handsome arm .] No; but it looks very well on me as a bracelet, doesn’t it?

lord goring

Yes; much better than when I saw it last.

mrs. cheveley

When did you see it last?

lord goring

[ Calmly .] Oh, ten years ago, on Lady Berkshire, from whom you stole it.

mrs. cheveley

[ Starting .] What do you mean?

lord goring

I mean that you stole that ornament from my cousin, Mary Berkshire, to whom I gave it when she was married. Suspicion fell on a wretched servant, who was sent away in disgrace. I recognized it last night. I determined to say nothing about it till I had found the thief. I have found the thief now, and I have heard her own confession.

·163· mrs. cheveley

[ Tossing her head .] It is not true.

lord goring

You know it is true. Why, thief is written across your face at this moment.

mrs. cheveley

I will deny the whole affair from beginning to end. I will say that I have never seen this wretched thing, that it was never in my possession.

[ Mrs. Cheveley tries to get the bracelet off her arm, but fails. Lord Goring looks on amused. Her thin fingers tear at the jewel to no purpose. A curse breaks from her .]

lord goring

The drawback of stealing a thing, Mrs. Cheveley, is that one never knows how wonderful the thing that one steals is. You can’t get that bracelet off, unless you know where the spring is. And I see you don’t know where the spring is. It is rather difficult to find.

mrs. cheveley

You brute! You coward! [ She tries again to unclasp the bracelet, but fails .]

·164· lord goring

Oh! don’t use big words. They mean so little.

mrs. cheveley

[ Again tears at the bracelet in a paroxysm of rage, with inarticulate sounds. Then stops, and looks at Lord Goring .] What are you going to do?

lord goring

I am going to ring for my servant. He is an admirable servant. Always comes in the moment one rings for him. When he comes I will tell him to fetch the police.

mrs. cheveley

[ Trembling .] The police? What for?

lord goring

To-morrow the Berkshires will prosecute you. That is what the police are for.

mrs. cheveley

[ Is now in an agony of physical terror. Her face is distorted. Her mouth awry. A mask has fallen from her. She is, for the moment, dreadful to look at .] Don’t do that. I will do anything you want. Anything in the world you want.

lord goring

Give me Robert Chiltern’s letter.

·165· mrs. cheveley

Stop! Stop! Let me have time to think.

lord goring

Give me Robert Chiltern’s letter.

mrs. cheveley

I have not got it with me. I will give it to you to-morrow.

lord goring

You know you are lying. Give it to me at once. [ Mrs. Cheveley pulls the letter out, and hands it to him. She is horribly pale .] This is it?

mrs. cheveley

[ In a hoarse voice .] Yes.

lord goring

[ Takes the letter, examines it, sighs, and burns it over the lamp .] For so well-dressed a woman, Mrs. Cheveley, you have moments of admirable common sense. I congratulate you.

mrs. cheveley

[ Catches sight of Lady Chiltern’s letter, the cover of which is just showing from under the blotting-book .] Please get me a glass of water.

·166· lord goring

Certainly. [ Goes to the corner of the room and pours out a glass of water. While his back is turned Mrs. Cheveley steals Lady Chiltern’s letter. When Lord Goring returns with the glass she refuses it with a gesture .]

mrs. cheveley

Thank you. Will you help me on with my cloak?

lord goring

With pleasure. [ Puts her cloak on .]

mrs. cheveley

Thanks. I am never going to try to harm Robert Chiltern again.

lord goring

Fortunately you have not the chance, Mrs. Cheveley.

mrs. cheveley

Well, if even I had the chance, I wouldn’t. On the contrary, I am going to render him a great service.

lord goring

I am charmed to hear it. It is a reformation.

·167· mrs. cheveley

Yes. I can’t bear so upright a gentleman, so honourable an English gentleman, being so shamefully deceived, and so——

lord goring

Well?

mrs. cheveley

I find that somehow Gertrude Chiltern’s dying speech and confession has strayed into my pocket.

lord goring

What do you mean?

mrs. cheveley

[ With a bitter note of triumph in her voice .] I mean that I am going to send Robert Chiltern the love letter his wife wrote to you to-night.

lord goring

Love letter?

mrs. cheveley

[ Laughing .] “I want you. I trust you. I am coming to you. Gertrude.”

[ Lord Goring rushes to the bureau and takes up the envelope, finds it empty, and turns round .]

·168· lord goring

You wretched woman, must you always be thieving? Give me back that letter. I’ll take it from you by force. You shall not leave my room till I have got it.

[ He rushes towards her, but Mrs. Cheveley at once puts her hand on the electric bell that is on the table. The bell sounds with shrill reverberations, and Phipps enters .]

mrs. cheveley

[ After a pause .] Lord Goring merely rang that you should show me out. Good-night, Lord Goring!

[ Goes out, followed by Phipps. Her face is illumined with evil triumph. There is joy in her eyes. Youth seems to have come back to her. Her last glance is like a swift arrow. Lord Goring bites his lip, and lights a cigarette .]

Act-drop.

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·171· Scene—Same as Act II.

[ Lord Goring is standing by the fireplace with his hands in his pockets. He is looking rather bored .]

lord goring

[ Pulls out his watch, inspects it, and rings the bell .] It is a great nuisance. I can’t find anyone in this house to talk to. And I am full of interesting information. I feel like the latest edition of something or other.

[ Enter Servant .]

james

Sir Robert is still at the Foreign Office, my lord.

lord goring

Lady Chiltern not down yet?

james

Her ladyship has not yet left her room. Miss Chiltern has just come in from riding.

·172· lord goring

[ To himself .] Ah! that is something.

james

Lord Caversham has been waiting some time in the library for Sir Robert. I told him your lordship was here.

lord goring

Thank you. Would you kindly tell him I’ve gone?

james

[ Bowing .] I shall do so, my lord.

[ Exit Servant .]

lord goring

Really, I don’t want to meet my father three days running. It is a great deal too much excitement for any son. I hope to goodness he won’t come up. Fathers should be neither seen nor heard. That is the only proper basis for family life. Mothers are different. Mothers are darlings. [ Throws himself down into a chair, picks up a paper and begins to read it .]