Cecil Graham. It is something very
particular. It will interest you enormously.
Lord Windermere. [Smiling.] It is some
of your nonsense, Cecil.
Cecil Graham. It isn’t!
It isn’t really.
Lord Augustus. [Going to him.] My dear
fellow, you mustn’t go yet. I have a lot
to talk to you about. And Cecil has something
to show you.
Lord Windermere. [Walking over.] Well,
what is it?
Cecil Graham. Darlington has got a
woman here in his rooms. Here is her fan.
Amusing, isn’t it? [A pause.]
Lord Windermere. Good God! [Seizes
the fan—Dumby rises.]
Cecil Graham. What is the matter?
Lord Windermere. Lord Darlington!
Lord Darlington. [Turning round.] Yes!
Lord Windermere. What is my wife’s
fan doing here in your rooms?
Hands off, Cecil. Don’t touch me.
Lord Darlington. Your wife’s
fan?
Lord Windermere. Yes, here it is!
Lord Darlington. [Walking towards him.]
I don’t know!
Lord Windermere. You must know.
I demand an explanation. Don’t hold me,
you fool. [To Cecil Graham.]
Lord Darlington. [Aside.] She is here
after all!
Lord Windermere. Speak, sir!
Why is my wife’s fan here? Answer me!
By God! I’ll search your rooms, and if
my wife’s here, I’ll— [Moves.]
Lord Darlington. You shall not search
my rooms. You have no right to do so.
I forbid you!
Lord Windermere. You scoundrel!
I’ll not leave your room till I have searched
every corner of it! What moves behind that curtain?
[Rushes towards the curtain C.]
Mrs. Erlynne. [Enters behind R.] Lord
Windermere!
Lord Windermere. Mrs. Erlynne!
[Every one starts and turns round. Lady
Windermere slips out from behind the curtain
and glides from the room L.]
Mrs. Erlynne. I am afraid I took your
wife’s fan in mistake for my own, when I was
leaving your house to-night. I am so sorry.
[Takes fan from him. Lord Windermere
looks at her in contempt. Lord Darlington
in mingled astonishment and anger. Lord
Augustus turns away. The other men smile
at each other.]
Act drop.
Scene—Same as in Act I.
Lady Windermere. [Lying on sofa.] How
can I tell him? I can’t tell him.
It would kill me. I wonder what happened after
I escaped from that horrible room. Perhaps she
told them the true reason of her being there, and
the real meaning of that—fatal fan of mine.
Oh, if he knows—how can I look him in the
face again? He would never forgive me. [Touches
bell.] How securely one thinks one lives—out
of reach of temptation, sin, folly. And then
suddenly—Oh! Life is terrible.
It rules us, we do not rule it.
