SIR ROBERT CHLITERN, an MP at the House of Commons is holding a dinner party at his Grosvenor Square home. MRS CHEVELEY has been invited by another guest, and takes this opportunity to talk to SIR ROBERT about a business transaction of hers in which he can be of use. In this scene she sets out her devious plan to blackmail him in no uncertain terms when SIR ROBERT refuses her terms.