Act 4, Part 1 Summary

Goring arrives at the Chilterns', and is told by a servant that Lady Chiltern hasn't yet come down. Mabel has just come in from riding, and Sir Robert is still at the Foreign Office. He's also told that Caversham is in another room, and has been waiting to see Sir Robert. After the servant goes, Caversham comes in, demanding to know whether Goring has thought about becoming engaged. Goring tells him that he has hopes of being engaged before lunch. Caversham then asks whether Goring has read the Times newspaper, saying that Sir Robert gave a rousing speech in the House of Commons the night before, denouncing the Argentine Canal scheme. Caversham quotes compliments on Sir Robert's speech from the paper, saying he thinks Goring should go into politics. When Goring says he isn't interested, Caversham then tells him that he...