cccSirRobertChilternisasuccessfulGovernmentminister,well-offandwithalovingwife.AllthisisthreatenedwhenMrsCheveleyappearsinLondonwithdamningevidenceofapastmisdeed.SirRobertturnsforhelptohisfriendLordGoring,anapparentlyidlephilandererandthedespairofhisfather.Goringknowstheladyofold,and,forhim,takesthewholethingprettyseriously.