sir robert chiltern. Ah! why did you not add you loved me?
lady chiltern. [Taking his hand.] Because I loved you.
[lord goring passes into the conservatory.]
sir robert chiltern. [Kisses her.] Gertrude, you don’t know what I feel. When Montford passed me your letter across the table—he had opened it by mistake, I suppose, without looking at the handwriting on the envelope—and I read it—oh! I did not care what disgrace or punishment was in store for me, I only thought you loved me still.
lady chiltern. There is no disgrace in store for you, nor any public shame. Mrs. Cheveley has handed over to Lord Goring the document that was in her possession, and he has destroyed it.
sir robert chiltern. Are you sure of this, Gertrude?
lady chiltern. Yes; Lord Goring has just told me.
sir robert chiltern. Then I am safe! Oh! what a wonderful thing to be safe! For two days I have been in terror. I am safe now. How did Arthur destroy my letter? Tell me.
lady chiltern. He burned it.
sir robert chiltern. I wish I had seen that one sin of my youth burning to ashes. How many men there are in modern life who would like to see their past burning to white ashes before them! Is Arthur still here?