[Enter phipps with drinks.]

phipps. [Hands hock and seltzer to sir robert chiltern.] Hock and seltzer, sir.

sir robert chiltern. Thank you.

lord goring. Is your carriage here, Robert?

sir robert chiltern. No; I walked from the club.

lord goring. Sir Robert will take my cab, Phipps.

phipps. Yes, my lord. [Exit.]

lord goring. Robert, you don’t mind my sending you away?

sir robert chiltern. Arthur, you must let me stay for five minutes. I have made up my mind what I am going to do to-night in the House. The debate on the Argentine Canal is to begin at eleven. [A chair falls in the drawing-room.] What is that?

lord goring. Nothing.