Lady Bracknell. [Meditatively.] I cannot at the present moment
recall what the General's Christian name was. But I have no doubt
he had one. He was eccentric, I admit. But only in later years.
And that was the result of the Indian climate, and marriage, and
indigestion, and other things of that kind.

Jack. Algy! Can't you recollect what our father's Christian name
was?

Algernon. My dear boy, we were never even on speaking terms. He
died before I was a year old.

Jack. His name would appear in the Army Lists of the period, I
suppose, Aunt Augusta?

Lady Bracknell. The General was essentially a man of peace, except
in his domestic life. But I have no doubt his name would appear in
any military directory.

Jack. The Army Lists of the last forty years are here. These
delightful records should have been my constant study. [Rushes to
bookcase and tears the books out.] M. Generals . . . Mallam,
Maxbohm, Magley, what ghastly names they have--Markby, Migsby,
Mobbs, Moncrieff! Lieutenant 1840, Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Colonel, General 1869, Christian names, Ernest John. [Puts book
very quietly down and speaks quite calmly.] I always told you,
Gwendolen, my name was Ernest, didn't I? Well, it is Ernest after
all. I mean it naturally is Ernest.