lady chiltern. This fraudulent speculation—
mrs. cheveley. Call it what you choose. I hold your husband in the hollow of my hand, and if you are wise you will make him do what I tell him.
lady chiltern. [Rising and going towards her.] You are impertinent. What has my husband to do with you? With a woman like you?
mrs. cheveley [With a bitter laugh.] In this world like meets with like. It is because your husband is himself fraudulent and dishonest that we pair so well together. Between you and him there are chasms. He and I are closer than friends. We are enemies linked together. The same sin binds us.
lady chiltern. How dare you class my husband with yourself? How dare you threaten him or me? Leave my house. You are unfit to enter it.
[sir robert chiltern enters from behind. He hears his wife’s last words, and sees to whom they are addressed. He grows deadly pale.]
mrs. cheveley. Your house! A house bought with the price of dishonour. A house, everything in which has been paid for by fraud. [Turns round and sees sir robert chiltern.] Ask him what the origin of his fortune is! Get him to tell you how he sold to a stockbroker a Cabinet secret. Learn from him to what you owe your position.
lady chiltern. It is not true! Robert! It is not true!
mrs. cheveley. [Pointing at him with outstretched finger.] Look at him! Can he deny it? Does he dare to?
sir robert chiltern. Go! Go at once. You have done your worst now.