I had no idea that you, of all men in the world, could have been so weak, Robert, as to yield to such a temptation as Baron Arnheim held out to you.
sir robert chiltern
Weak? Oh, I am sick of hearing that phrase. Sick of using it about others. Weak? Do you ·74· really think, Arthur, that it is weakness that yields to temptation? I tell you that there are terrible temptations that it requires strength, strength and courage, to yield to. To stake all one’s life on a single moment, to risk everything on one throw, whether the stake be power or pleasure, I care not—there is no weakness in that. There is a horrible, a terrible courage. I had that courage. I sat down the same afternoon and wrote Baron Arnheim the letter this woman now holds. He made three-quarters of a million over the transaction.
lord goring
And you?
sir robert chiltern
I received from the Baron £110,000.
lord goring
You were worth more, Robert.
sir robert chiltern
No; that money gave me exactly what I wanted, power over others. I went into the House immediately. The Baron advised me in finance from time to time. Before five years I had almost trebled my fortune. Since then everything that I have touched has turned out a success. In all things connected with money I have had a luck so extraordinary that sometimes it has made me almost afraid. I remember having read somewhere, in some strange ·75· book, that when the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers.
lord goring
But tell me, Robert, did you never suffer any regret for what you had done?
sir robert chiltern
No. I felt that I had fought the century with its own weapons, and won.
lord goring
[Sadly.] You thought you had won?
sir robert chiltern
I thought so. [After a long pause.] 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.
·76· 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 ·77· 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.
·78· sir robert chiltern
Did you know her well?
lord goring
[Arranging his necktie.] So little that I got engaged to be married to her once, when I was staying at the Tenbys’. The affair lasted for three days … nearly.
sir robert chiltern
Why was it broken off?
lord goring
[Airily.] Oh, I forget. At least, it makes no matter. By the way, have you tried her with money? She used to be confoundedly fond of money.
sir robert chiltern
I offered her any sum she wanted. She refused.
lord goring
Then the marvellous gospel of gold breaks down sometimes. The rich can’t do everything, after all.
sir robert chiltern
Not everything. I suppose you are right. Arthur, I feel that public disgrace is in store for me. I feel certain of it. I never knew what terror was ·79· before. I know it now. It is as if a hand of ice were laid upon one’s heart. It is as if one’s heart were beating itself to death in some empty hollow.
lord goring
[Striking the table.] Robert, you must fight her. You must fight her.
sir robert chiltern
But how?
lord goring
I
