lord goring. Thanks awfully, but I think I’d sooner be engaged before lunch.
lord caversham. Humph! Never know when you are serious or not.
lord goring. Neither do I, father.
[A pause.]
lord caversham. I suppose you have read The Times this morning?
lord goring. [Airily.] The Times? Certainly not. I only read The Morning Post. All that one should know about modern life is where the Duchesses are; anything else is quite demoralising.
lord caversham. Do you mean to say you have not read The Times leading article on Robert Chiltern’s career?
lord goring. Good heavens! No. What does it say?
lord caversham. What should it say, sir? Everything complimentary, of course. Chiltern’s speech last night on this Argentine Canal scheme was one of the finest pieces of oratory ever delivered in the House since Canning.
lord goring. Ah! Never heard of Canning. Never wanted to. And did . . . did Chiltern uphold the scheme?