I hope not, Lady Markby. At any rate we do our
best to waste the public time, don't we? But who is this charming
person you have been kind enough to bring to us?
LADY MARKBY. Her name is Mrs. Cheveley! One of the Dorsetshire
Cheveleys, I suppose. But I really don't know. Families are so
mixed nowadays. Indeed, as a rule, everybody turns out to be
somebody else.
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Mrs. Cheveley? I seem to know the name.
LADY MARKBY. She has just arrived from Vienna.
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. Ah! yes. I think I know whom you mean.
LADY MARKBY. Oh! she goes everywhere there, and has such pleasant
scandals about all her friends. I really must go to Vienna next
winter. I hope there is a good chef at the Embassy.
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. If there is not, the Ambassador will certainly
have to be recalled. Pray point out Mrs. Cheveley to me. I should
like to see her.
LADY MARKBY. Let me introduce you. [To MRS. CHEVELEY.] My dear,
Sir Robert Chiltern is dying to know you!
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN. [Bowing.] Every one is dying to know the
brilliant Mrs. Cheveley. Our attaches at Vienna write to us about
nothing else.
MRS. CHEVELEY. Thank you, Sir Robert. An acquaintance that begins
with a compliment is sure to develop into a real friendship. It
starts in the right manner. And I find that I know Lady Chiltern
already.
SIR ROBERT CHILTERN.
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